Truckin' Buster

Back From Hell, Thank You.

2012-02-26T18:07:00.004-05:00

I guess you all have noticed the macabre nature of my last few posts...like I was obsessed with death or something. And I suppose you might be wondering (if you haven't written me off by now) why I'm wearing an elizabethan collar in the picture on the left. Well, I've got a bit of an update on that...

First,...I'm fine, I guess. No imminent dying to be expected at any moment. But for a couple of months Matt and I weren't sure.

About 6 months ago the corner of my nose turned white. It was my left nostril and it looked...odd. So we watched it for a while until my right nostril did the same thing. Then my nose began to swell a bit and I was rubbing it until it went from black to pink and then cracked and scabby. It even bled at times. So went to the new vet we love so much. Dr. Humanlady looked at it and suggested a biopsy which cost Matt over $600 and made him say angry things in the car on the way home. But I was brought back and gassed. An eraser-sized hunk of flesh was taken from the right side of my nose and the opening stitched up. It sprayed a little after I was brought home but then dried. There are still blood stains on Matt's bed, but he took it well enough. The results of the biopsy were negative. The possibilities had been cancerous tumors, allergies, or a really nasty fungus. It was decided to be allergies built up due to too many meds and products.

Matt has not given me any more products than I should have. But I've been getting prednisone for around 4 years now. But he did stop giving me that Revolution stuff on the back of my neck a while ago. Now my diet has changed from Hill's prescription ZD low allergen formula to the DD formula (rabbit). I've found that the DD rabbit has agreed with me very much over the past 2 months, resulting in the reduction of swelling, itching, and best of all bleeding. Some of the healthy black color is starting to come back in small dots and patches. Hopefully I will have a beautiful black nose again soon. Pink is not my color. And maybe I'll be posting more happy posts again, not having to worry about my own death and all. Please pray and wish me good fortune. Thanks for reading. Later.

Proof That Cats Have Feelings, Too.

2012-01-03T22:10:00.005-05:00

I'd like to wish all a Happy New Year....

That rang kind of hollow, considering the video above. It's a cat trying to revive his friend shortly after it was hit by a car. And I felt the need to post that because of what I've heard some say about cats. It is the considered opinion of some that cats cannot feel love... that cats see humans only as a source of food and shelter, but nothing more... that cats are evil and have love for nothing or no one. As you can see above, that's not true.

Sure, we don't fetch newspapers or slippers like dogs do. But that's only because we are so impressed with human ingenuity that we don't think people need us to do that. Humans need to be touched and brushed up against. They need to touch us and stroke our fur and put scotch tape on our feet and slide us across a tile floor and then laugh. Hey, wait!

The point is...CATS HAVE FEELINGS, TOO!!!

Svengali Vet

2011-10-23T00:00:00.003-04:00

Earlier this week Matt took me to the......VET.... for my annual check-up, shots, documentation, and....wow...much smaller bill. Hmmm. It's a different vet than usual, and the trip was shorter (only 7 minutes by car, rather than 2 hours). Sometimes you just gotta try something new, I guess.

One reason it was cheaper is that there was no gas induction. I didn't have to be "put under" in order to be examined. You see, usually I get so riled up when I hear the dogs barking in the waiting area, and I smell their doggy stink, that I emit a long, low growl that gets everyone's attention, and when I'm taken into the examination room I refuse to leave my kennel. So Matt has to pick it up and gently dump me out of it, and I run to the corner of the room and hiss a lot. So the other vets had to give me a shot or put me in a small, clear box and gas me so I lay still while they poke, grope, insert (yeeooooww), and stick me with needles.

But this new Dr. was very patient and gentle and calmed me down with some kinda Svengali-like petting and talking to where I didn't feel threatened. She somehow checked my eyes, ears, throat, thyroid, back and belly, and even.... back there... without me scratching anyone. And she did all this in front of Matt. No taking me to the back room for unspeakable crimes and torture, everything was in plain view. Matt says she's our new vet from now on. Not that the last vet was so horrible. He wasn't. He was actually quite thorough, but too expensive for today's budget. So in spite of the fact he did me some good, it was time for a change. We even got a new pharmacist that compounded a bacon flavored prednisone at a third of the price of the old one. All in all it was a very successful trip, and I am quite happy. So is Matt.

Now if work would only start to pick up again....

Cats Who Look Like Hitler

2011-10-16T23:49:00.004-04:00

Okay, back to humor...

This little kitty has high aspirations of invading Poland someday. Perhaps he'll merely saunter past the border guards with his tail in the air... without inflicting any casualties or collateral damage. But what a great Hitler-look-alike! This one and others are known as "Kitlers," and have their own website (see link below). Some have called ME a kitler, too, but I don't think I qualify with a white mustache which is off-centered, anyway.

For this and other "kitlers," click HERE. Bring your sense of humor, and leave your righteous indignation at the door, please!

Time To Get Serious For A Moment... Pile Of Dead Cats

2011-10-15T21:51:00.003-04:00

I got this from a Facebook friend. This needs to be reposted so people realize what's happening out there. Most animal shelters are not "no-kill" shelters like mine was, and this pile-up of beautiful cats is typical. Why anyone would not adopt a cat from a shelter, if they wanted a cat, is beyond my little kitty brain to fathom... And why anyone would dump a cat at a shelter when we cats have such great uses is also a mystery. I was at my shelter for over 11 months before I was adopted by Matt. Most other shelters would have killed me long before then. And if you haven't figured it out, the cats in this photo are not sleeping. They only look that way.

A Letter from a Shelter Manager - anonymous in North Carolina

I think our society needs a huge "Wake-up" call. As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all...a view from the inside if you will.

First off, all of you breeders/sellers should be made to work in the "back" of an animal shelter for just one day. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don't even know.

That puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore. So how would you feel if you knew that there's about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at? Purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays", that come into my shelter are purebred dogs.

The most common excuses I hear are; "We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat)." Really? Where are you moving too that doesn't allow pets? Or they say "The dog got bigger than we thought it would". How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? "We don't have time for her". Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! "She's tearing up our yard". How about making her a part of your family? They always tell me "We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her we know she'll get adopted, she's a good dog".

Odds are your pet won't get adopted & how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you, your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off. Sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies. Your pet will be confined to a small run/kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers in that day to take him/her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black or any of the "Bully" breeds (pit bull, rottie, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door.

Those dogs just don't get adopted. It doesn't matter how 'sweet' or 'well behaved' they are.

If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed. If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed it may get a stay of execution, but not for long . Most dogs get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don't have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.

Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down".

First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk happy, wagging their tails. Until they get to "The Room", every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there, it's strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs depending on the size and how freaked out they are. Then a euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They will find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the "pink stuff". Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood and been deafened by the yelps and screams. They all don't just "go to sleep", sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves.

When it all ends, your pets corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back with all of the other animals that were killed waiting to be picked up like garbage. What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You'll never know and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal and you can always buy another one, right?

I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head I deal with everyday on the way home from work.

I hate my job, I hate that it exists & I hate that it will always be there unless you people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter.

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes.

My point to all of this DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!

Hate me if you want to. The truth hurts and reality is what it is. I just hope I maybe changed one persons mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog. I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say "I saw this and it made me want to adopt". THAT WOULD MAKE IT WORTH IT.
— with Jeff Hartman, Michele Sawyer Credle, aura nomz, Jerry Hartman, Tony N Budda, Perez Pillo and Joel Darby.

From Nevada To California To Washington State

2011-10-05T22:44:00.003-04:00

Matt took a couple of pictures on our load (trip) out West. One is a burning mountain in Nevada, where the grass is very dry and catches fire quickly these days. The other is a rather ominous Mt. Shasta (?) or some mountain very near Mt. Shasta. Matt told me about a soda drink called Shasta from years ago. He said they had these commercials on TV where people blew the foam off their drinks into each other's faces, and that it was supposed to be funny. I'd scratch anyone who did that to me.

6 Years On The Road And We're Gonna Make It Home...In 3 Weeks Or So

2011-10-01T12:33:00.004-04:00

It has been 6 years since I was adopted from the Northampton SPCA by Matt, as of yesterday. We were too busy to post on it then, and don't have much time now. We are on a load to Northern California, which is a place we don't often go to these days. But just so you know, we both celebrated briefly this milestone.

So, gotta run!!!

DENVER!

2011-08-18T20:07:00.004-04:00

Matt and I went to Denver, CO today and saw lots of mountains and tall buildings. But since Matt and I have been there so many times, he didn't bother to take any pictures of them. He did take a picture of me trying to play with the buttons on the radio. He keeps playing Bach organ music over and over again. It sounds kinda scary to me, but he loves it so I gotta listen, too. I think he called it Tobacco and Fudge in D Minor or something. I'm partial to the Fudge, myself. See below!

It was very hot today once the sun came out, and Matt found it welcome news that we were picking up a load at Coors in Golden, CO. Unfortunately it wasn't beer, but bottle caps we picked up....thousands and thousands of bottle caps -- about 44,000 pounds of them. Well, those will make someone happy, I guess.

Not much else to report, I guess--- except that I savaged a couple of flies today who foolishly flew into the truck through the window. They're slightly crunchy and chewy at the same time, and the blood, oh the blood, from many an unfortunate host. Hey, I'm starting to love this Bach. It's very intense!

Hot Days and Cool Treats

2011-06-27T18:58:00.006-04:00

Well, here you have it. NO! These aren't pictures of anything Matt did. Just something he and I saw a few VERY HOT days ago in Sanger, TX at a Walmart Distribution Center.

Apparently, some OTHER truck driver forgot how important it was to line up the trailer's landing gear with the cement landing PAD provided, especially when it's nearly 102 degrees outside and the trailer is loaded with heavy freight. It sank into the asphalt like a hot knife through butter.

It is known as a career ender, because some very heavy machinery will be required to lift the lowered end and put some sort of support under the gear so a bobtail truck can get under it and pull it on out of there. Also, now no one will hire the driver because he is uninsurable. How awful.

In other news,... the weeks following our vacation have been very productive indeed, as Matt and I have averaged over 2,900 miles each week. Unfortunately Matt has also gained 5 lbs during this same time frame.

Also, at a local vet Matt discovered several bags of Hill's prescription diet Hypoallergenic treats for sale, which he promptly purchased. They taste really great and not like diet or skim or anything like that. I look forward to them everyday, and best of all.... they don't make me puke!

A Much Needed Update On A Few Things...

2011-05-19T20:49:00.004-04:00

It would appear that I have not been blogging in a while. It's NOT MY FAULT! Blame Matt!

Okay, now that's settled. Time to update on a few things:

First, I finished Matt's taxes just in the nick of time and figured a refund of about $87,798,909.59. Matt asked me to do them again, thinking I made some sort of error. So I did and calculated a refund of $97,798,909.59. So Matt allowed me to send it in to the IRS, in spite of the fact that this figure is almost twice Matt's annual income. So far we've not heard from the IRS, but Matt is ever hopeful of receiving a check soon.

On Matt's birthday, which he graciously shares with me (just not the cake),...he got a cake. And I got a tin of albacore tuna. I guess we were both happy with that.

Today, Matt and I are on vacation in an undisclosed location in the Chicago area where I am held up in a car in the shade, and Matt is touring various churches downtown. He'll have pictures on his own blog as the days progress.

Sorry it's been so long since anyone has heard from me. Matt and I will try to do better...

Buster The Bean-Counter

2011-01-31T19:48:00.005-05:00

I love driving down to Texas in the winter. The further south, the better. It gets warmer, so I don't sneeze as much. And my fur stops looking all clumpy from something Matt calls sta...staticl...uh...something lectircity or something. Makes my fur stand up and things cling to me, like my kitty litter, lint, and small strips of paper.

So I have something to be happy about. This is good, because Matt says I have to do our taxes this year. I've never done them before because I don't have thumbs and can't add and stuff. I can subtract okay, like when I eat and the pieces of cereal disappear. Sometimes I count them. Anyway Matt says I better do them right or the IRS will take me away and turn me into dog food. Does anyone know if they can really do that? Even under Obama it seems a bit extreme. I can't find the calculator either. Maybe someone can help me with this. Matt started doing them and then got mad when I wouldn't stop meowing because I was hungry, and told me to do them myself.

Anyway, Matt and I are in Waco, TX sitting leisurely for the day because freight is slow. He's in the Flying Hook playing with the computer and I'm in the truck enjoying ME-time, laying about on the dashboard and dreaming of fish.

End Of Year Rant and Whine

2010-12-26T22:43:00.003-05:00

Since we are close to the end of the year, I figured I should do a year-end post for Matt, since I've posted nothing since October. So I suppose I should recap what happened to us this year. Well, nothing much, really, except whatever I posted already.

Christmas kinda sucked here, in that Matt and I were both sick. Matt spent time in bed with mucus lungs and I slept an awful lot with my own upper respiratory infection, for which Matt has given me Clavamox or something. It's a pill that he forces into my mouth twice daily immediately followed by drowning with water. Yeah, really fun times here.

It's the first winter in our new truck that was slammed into VERY shortly after we acquired it. And that might explain why it's so drafty, and why Matt and I are both sick, in spite of the weather-stripping he did on the side box door.

Matt missed Confession and Mass Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (today) due to illness. I learned how to get into the garbage under the sink, making a couple of messes that got Matt really angry. Now he has something heavy propped in front of the garbage door. I need to eat much more in order to move it.

On the brighter side, the tree sure looks nice. The car still runs okay, the booklice are hibernating or dead, Matt still has a job, my litter box was cleaned today, and the heat works here.

We are praying that next year is better than this past one.

My Anniversary Cake...That I Can't Eat

2010-10-05T21:10:00.004-04:00

Now that Matt is over his blood pressure test hysteria, he has purchased an anniversary cake...uh...wtf? It says "5 years outa the... KLINK???" C'mon Matt, it was just a shelter for cats and dogs. No prison at all. They were good to me there.

Matt says it was a tasty cake, but whoever wrote on it has bad handwriting. And who put those fake flowers there? Matt didn't order those. It's made out of chocolate fudge frosting, black cherry filling, and chocolate cake inside. And Matt drove all the way to Lancaster, PA to THIS PLACE. I can't even pronounce it.

As usual I am not allowed to partake in the eating of this poo-colored treat. And why would I want to? Matt got me some moist, canned yummy food for me to celebrate...and a new toy that lights up and flashes. That was good for about 10 minutes.

New Video From Simon's Cat: The Box

2010-10-03T10:22:00.004-04:00

Here's another cartoon from Simon's Cat, who I don't find the least bit amusing. Matt, of course, DOES, and that's why I'm posting it. I would never destroy property of another like this foolish feline, tearing and ripping apart a toy like that... unless it had catnip inside. Then I might... ooorrrrrrrr if it was used in transporting leaking cans of sausage meat, or sardines, or fish heads, or....

Happy Fifth Anniversary!!!

2010-09-30T09:48:00.002-04:00

It has been 5 years as of today! Five years out of the insane asylum with all those abused, lonely strays all clamoring to get the attention of anyone remotely interested in adopting a friend.

When I saw Matt coming I leapt to the front of the crowd of cats, pushing them out of the way, and furiously brushing up against his leg (actually, I did no such thing. I ran and hid from him --he's very, very tall, you see). He reached down and picked up Cookie, a cat looking much like me, and she growled. So he quickly put her down again and just stood there. Then the ladies that ran the joint grabbed other cats to show him, but he wasn't interested in them.

He walked about here and there, finally making his way to the back of the room where I was. I looked up at him and meowed. He ignored me. Then one of the ladies brought me over to the shelf and Matt came over and checked me out. I purred and meowed and brushed against his hand, and then I jumped over to him on his shoulders. I've no idea what possessed me to do that, but I guess I wanted to be tall, too.

"We have a percher!" One of the ladies shouted and giggled. So Matt had the lady take me out for a test drive since I would be going with Matt on the road. He wanted to see how I reacted to riding in a machine. I didn't like it, but I didn't puke or cry, or even scratch anyone. I just laid low and waited for it to end. Then they brought me back and I ran and hid under the table.

Next thing I know I'm being selected and put in a box with little holes for the tall fellow to take home. Finally,...after 11 months of living in a cage most of the time, I had a home. But I had no idea what was going to come next...

I got used to the stop and go, sway to the right and left, and close quarters with a human full time, after only a day or two. The first day I hid my head under Matt's pillow on his bed. But after that I road on the dashboard mostly, feeling awestruck by the ever changing view. Then after a while it didn't seem to change all that much. Same stuff each day. But after 5 years of this I wish Matt would get another job. I like being home with all my toys and want to stay here.

Things Could Be Worse...

2010-09-21T15:08:00.006-04:00

We're sitting in New Stanton, PA, waiting for the lumpers to unload our trailer load full of Clorox products, and pondering the meaning of life. For me, it's being able to flop my gloriously lazy, furry body on Matt's pillows and laptop computer case and have no care what-so-ever in the world.

For Matt, it's to pass his blood pressure test tomorrow morning. He's fretting. He almost always passes it, but he frets anyway. It must be the "almost" part that gets him fretting.

But I don't have to worry about such things, only that Matt doesn't abandon me like my last owner. This would mean that I would starve and slowly wither away and die. I would have no predisone administered to me to reduce my inner inflammation, allowing me to eliminate waste matter (poo) properly. In laycats terms, I'd get bound up with a thousand fur balls. It wouldn't matter what someone fed me, or what wonderful dumpster I'd eat out of. Oh, I miss dumpsters...like a grande buffet: dead rats, fish heads, and thousands of other surprises just waiting for me to sample them.

So I lay there....and wait for the next bout of excitement...or the next meal...or the next fly to buzz by me...and I just live.

iPhone Submerged And I'm In The Doghouse

2010-08-25T14:25:00.009-04:00

Sorry for being away again for so long, but I was being punished for misbehaving a couple of weeks ago....

All I did was lay on the bed. That was all. I do it all the time when Matt's driving because the bumps are softer on me when I'm on the mattress. But this one time,...just this one time, Matt left something on the bed near my feet. It was located near the edge of the bed, so being a wee bit OCD, I beat it with my tail for a while...but it wouldn't move. So after a bit I started to nudge it with my back feet. It was small and black and kinda rubbery, like it had a skin of rubber or something. Then I realized Matt had left his iPhone there. So I kicked it harder until it fell off the edge.

I wasn't certain, but it seemed like I heard a small splash after it fell off the edge of the bed. "Oh no," I thought, "not my water dish!"

But sure enough, after about 86 miles of driving, Matt wondered aloud where his "&%$#" phone was, and pulled into the next rest area to find out. This was on I-77 just north of the North Carolina line, inside Virginia. He looked and looked for it while I stayed stationary on the bed, flopping my tail repeatedly as I do when I'm feeling anxious.

Finally he saw it laying face down in my water dish, half submerged in now undrinkable water. He got really angry, though I should have been the one who was angry since my water was now foul. He took it out, looked at me, then at the phone, then at me again, then he got angry. "No more blogging for a month!!!" he shouted.

So then he took the phone, dried it off on the outside, complained there was water underneath the glass front, tried to shake the water out, then toweled it dry again, then shut it off and put it away.

Two days later it worked as good as new, but I was still in the doghouse. But now I am allowed to blog once again because I apologized, and I caught two flies that were buzzing Matt.

Boy, those iPhones were built pretty good.

Unsafe Driving All Too Common

2010-07-25T07:22:00.001-04:00

Unsafe Driving... - A funny movie is a click away

This video is not for the faint of heart, but watching it could save your life...

Cracked Seats and Drunken Loaders...Must be New York

2010-07-24T00:52:00.007-04:00

The day before yesterday was interesting from where I was sitting, but very trying for poor Matt.

I remember we got up very early and drove to NE New Jersey where we waited and waited to be unloaded, and hearing Matt complaining about having to use a broken litter box seat. I don't know why he can't just aim-and-drop like me, but he has to sit down sometimes. Here's the picture on the left. Hey, at least they scoop out the litter between usages, right?

Then we had to drive through New York City on the big bridge, and then take another big bridge to a long island called Long Island to deliver more stuff. But then Matt cussed and swore and got angry when they sent him a message for him to go to Brooklyn to pick up a load. Traffic was horrible and we showed up 3 minutes late, so no detention pay for the upcoming 5 hour ordeal.

It was every-cat-for-himself as far as backing into a dock. Matt had to move his truck 4 times before he could check in at the shipping office because the street was so crowded with busses and cars and trucks. We were next to some kind of bus turn-around and it was BUSY.

2 hours later when Matt finally backed in, the guys who were loading trucks already started drinking beer. Matt's loader was drunk and stumbling before he was even half way done loading our trailer, and the idiot started falling down and tipping over pallets full of boxes instead of loading them up. At one point the guy got into such a giggle-fit that he pulled down his pants and exposed himself to his giggling buddies. But the worst part is that when the boss came down and saw all of this he simply threw up his arms and said, "I can't control this guy!" But he did nothing.

It didn't take long before Matt was running out of hours on the 14 hour rule thingy. That means that 14 hours after starting work, ie, driving or loading like at 5am,...he would have to park for the day before 7pm even if he sat and rested for a few hours. The 14 hour clock never stops. And if Matt were to drive anyway and get caught, he would face a stiff fine and possible imprisonment. Nice, huh? The drunkard got done loading at 6:45pm and Matt had to make a mad dash for New Jersey where the truck parking was. We certainly couldn't park for the night in this particular area of Brooklyn. We would get towed if we were lucky. So Matt enacted the safe-haven rule that, according to his safety department, says he can drive over hours only if searching for a safe haven at which to park. Fortunately it only took a half hour to cross two other bridges and get to the Vince Lombardi service plaza on the turnpike in NJ. And all of it is logged for the D.O.T..

As for the loader,... the safety department suggested phoning 9-1-1 with regards to the "exposure" incident; but if Matt had done that we never would have gotten out of there. And Matt is too nice a guy to "clock" the guy, though I would have scratched his thing right off if he'd flashed me and giggled. And that was our day, Thursday.

Making Progress

2010-07-18T02:26:00.003-04:00

It would appear that Matt has created a way to limit my chances of escape! He has instituted some sort of force-field, blocking my access to the button thingy that makes the see-through-wall-thingy go up and down. This vexes me an awful friggin' lot, and causes my teeth to strike together fiercely. But I am reassured that due to the bubble, tape, and velcro, he won't have to put me in the kennel in those all-too-frequent cases when the batteries run low at 4am and he has to start the truck to recharge them. The truck has been off at night because of some new human technolo-thingy that heats or cools the truck interior not requiring idling of the engine-like-object called the engine.

That white thing is just there to make my litter box smell better to Matt and any mechanics that sniff around looking for an excuse to have me removed for stinking up the truck.

It's nice not being stuck inside the little prison cell every night. But those batteries must be getting shot or going bad or something. Matt will check on that after I give him other work to do, like cleaning the poop out of my litter box, and cleaning up my vomit from mere moments ago, and taking the sticky-roller and going after my loose hair on the rug and seats and bed and his pillow. Since it got hotter I am shedding more.

Ick!!! Back On The Road. Vacation Over!

2010-06-19T21:03:00.002-04:00

Whaaa... Are we back on the road already? Vacation over? Crap!

Yeah, it's over and I gotta go bumpty-bump all day long. Then whenever Matt has to idle the engine to charge up the battery things for the cooler and stuff, I gotta cool my jets in the kennel. Back to prison. That's what it feels like.

Last week we spent the night in Mississippi, the land of mosquitos, and Matt got bit about 50 times on his legs. Even in the truck with the doors shut, those little blood-suckers were flying around like they owned the place. Matt was clapping his hands in the air and killing them for hours. Still, when we went to bed, there were still a few wily ones flying around, too quickly for the clapping. I couldn't help because my specialty is in catching flies. Mosquitos just don't seem enticing to me. Go figure.

Yesterday Matt stopped at Wally-World and bought some OFF. Yeah, the bug spray for humans to spray on themselves. But Matt also sprayed it all over the truck. Later on that night I puked...likely from the vapors. But the mosquitos hidden in the nooks and crannies fell dead.

A few days ago I saw Laredo,TX for the first time. We didn't go too close to the border, but I got the gist of things when we went through the border-patrol stop. Lots of barking dogs and stern looks. Sure looks like those guys are working hard. I hid under the bunk until Matt told me not to. He said that's the first place they look. Matt is always looking out for me.

Here's The Cake!

2010-05-30T19:26:00.007-04:00

Here's Matt's cake!

Big friggin' deal. I can't have any. I couldn't even get close enough to scratch the sides with my poopy paws just to taste the buttermilk. Yes, that's right. The frosting is dark chocolate, butter-cream from that Linda lady in Mt. Joy, PA where she makes cakes for evil people like Matt who doesn't share with cats.

It took 4 days for that slob to eat his precious cake, slurping and belching as he wolfed it down his throat. He said the middle layer was separated by a peanut butter moose or something. Mooses bite! I hope he got bit, alright. Devil's chocolate in the cake, and dark chocolate buttermilk frosting on the outside with green trim as you can see. What a pig. He kept going on and on about how he couldn't leave it out or the whole thing would melt into a pile because it wasn't artificial or something. And then he had to drive with the A/C on full blast in the heat for almost an hour! Who gives a rats bungie? Not me. I don't care. Can you tell? Happy Birthday and congratulations to Matt and not me, even though as you can see, my name is on the stupid thing along side his.

Sure Feels Good To Be Back Home Again

2010-05-19T16:18:00.007-04:00

We made it home finally...

After being stuck near Poughkeepsie, NY (actually, it was Newburgh...but Poughkeepsie gets more laughs, and it's nearby!), we finally got a load down into Pennsylvania where Matt began to unload everything from the truck cabin during a light rain. Lots of swearing ensued,... some by Matt himself. The truck had to be cleared out so it could be taken to the place where the accident damage would be fixed. Red tape wasn't enough to fix this one. A whole new driver-side sleeper panel needs to be installed. So things are kinda cluttered in our apartment for the next two weeks we're off.

Matt has a huge to-do list of things to do that need doing, so he will be doing his things while I watch him do them and try to keep out of the way, lest things fall on top of me and crush my small, furry head. Ouch.

Matt has been out a lot lately doing errands, like updating the safety and emissions test on his car. This time he took it to Jiffy Lube to have done. But after passing with flying colors the last two years, this time problems were found safety-wise. But the guys at Jiffy Lube knew exactly where to have these items fixed with little or no waiting. So he went and did it for around $200: exhaust flex tubing, two u-hangers and some other thingy that kept the catelitic converter from falling on the ground or something. Then got his stickers, so all is good now with the car.

My self-indulgent manservant is ordering himself a birthday cake with shamrocks on it, because he was unable to properly celebrate our birthday on it's proper date due to Lent and job qualification issues (see further down). My name will be on the cake with his, but I will not be allowed to have any...at all. So what's the point? I dunno. But he feels like celebrating belatedly his birthday, the fact that I can stay in the truck, the fact we got a new truck, the fact that the bugs are mostly out of the new truck (yeah, right), the fact that he passed his DOT physical without bloodpressure meds, the fact that the doctor gave him a two-year certificate instead of the usual one year because Matt's own doctor wrote a note saying "no longer diagnosed with hypertention" AND no more meds are taken that would put Matt at risk for hypoglycemia, the fact that Matt has lost lots of weight and is down to the mid 260's in poundage (he is after all, 6'5" tall!), and the fact that he made up with a high-ranking clergy person in Philadelphia whom he offended back in '04. All that and more requires a custom-made cake with shamrocks on it, I guess. And he's driving several miles to get it from Linda, who makes these in her home. The pictures of her creations look enticing, even to me. But with no bloody birds or shredded mice on the surface, I doubt I'd be interested...

Now Matt is talking about going into New York on Saturday just to go to church... What's wrong with this guy? We have several churches here, and the roofs don't leak. I dunno...

Broke Down Again, This Time In Rochester, NY

2010-05-04T10:25:00.003-04:00

Looks like we are broke down again! This time the bunk climate control unit has decided to stop working after only a week and a half. Freightliner Cascadias really suck bigtime!

That's me sitting behind Matt's computer on the bed. And that's my cruddy-looking litter box I've been doing my business in for the past 4 and a half years. As you can see, it's had better days. Maybe now that it looks like I may be staying a while, Matt will shell out some green and buy me a nice, new one. Don't hold your breath. He says "as long as it doesn't leak, there's no point in buying a new one."

So we sit...and wait at a motel for a part that's been backordered due to its popularity since the same problems are happening in so many of these new, poorly-built trucks. But don't expect a full-blown recall or anything.

Naked Picture Of Jane Fonda!!!

2010-05-03T13:35:00.004-04:00

Although I am ashamed to do this, it is needed to bolster my readership after a long hiatus. Yes, I have a naked picture of Jane Fonda. Here she is in all of her glory.

She looks kinda angry, like she hasn't been petted in a while. Perhaps some hairball treats are in order, as she looks rather unkempt. I would expect her to lick herself to smooth her fur. I doubt she could reach her own butt. I can reach mine, though. All a part of being a superior feline like myself. I wonder what kind of litter she uses... Perhaps I should inquire on her website...if I can find it without opposing thumbs...

She also looks rather cold, like someone stole her raincoat. Poor, poor girl. That must be what turned her from a fun-loving sex kitten to an angry, man-hating feminist, so angry in fact that she hated our soldiers to the point of betraying them in a visit to North Vietnam during the war. That's what Matt says, anyway, and insists he saw it on the History Channel.

Standing Cats Go Against Everything We Hold Dear

2010-05-02T20:08:00.003-04:00

Okay, it looks like we're posting more on this blog now than Matt's other one. But that's okay. It has been a very long dry spell and we are due for a bunch of posts.

With that said, I must point out the fact that foreign cats are evolving ahead of us American cats in that they are learning to stand on their back legs for extended periods of time. Personally I feel that Standing Cats are anathema or some kind of abomination. We do not beg on our haunches like drooling canines! We are cool beasts who sashay around the room brushing into anything that pleases us. This is our way. We are not trained monkeys. We do what we want.

Okay, I will stand for a short period to get treats, but I scratch and claw to get them after about 5 seconds. It's just not natural to stand and wave with a fore-paw at birds outside. They'll think I've gone soft in the head and swoop down on me or something. And then...I'll show them a thing or two...the fluttering little bastards. I'll scratch and claw them and bite their little heads off and leave their bodies on doorsteps and the end of beds near the post with blood and other effluence dripping on the floor below.... Oh yes... if Matt would only let me go hunting once in a while....

I Escaped...For A Little While

2010-05-01T21:21:00.004-04:00

I almost got away...for a time....on my own. But Matt knew my weaknesses!

I guess you already know we have a new truck. And like a anything new, it must be tested for weaknesses of its own to see if I can break out of it and run free!!!!

And I did.... for a short spell.

The freightliner cascadia has a few loopholes through which pets can flee, and I found one. The driver's seat, when raised to its driving height, offers space through which a cat or small dog can race under and out to be free free free!!!!...if the door is open for the driver to talk to a pedestrian. Or if the driver wants more fresh air than opening a window can avail.

I discovered this myself and dashed outside to the free air! And I ran and ran...until I heard Matt making smooching noises and shaking my jar of treats... Oh bliss! Treats!...for me!!! I ran back to him meowing and he grabbed me and stuck me back into the truck. He didn't even give me any treats. Yeah, see if that works again next time. We'll see.

Good thing I didn't get run over and squished. Now Matt has stuffed a large pillow under the seat so I can't see out and make my escape. I must find other ways. Yes. I must find them soon.

Brand New Truck!!! Oops!, Someone Already Hit It!

2010-04-24T14:06:00.013-04:00

It has happened... Well, a lot has happened, actually.

For some reason Matt's company decided to trade several 2006 trucks in early at only around 450,000 miles on the odometer. Matt and I were assigned a brand-spankin'-new, red, 2011 Freightliner Cascadia two days ago. Hooray! Never have I experienced the smells of a factory new semi truck with only 19 miles on it. Quite an experience for this aging cat. And to think that only 8 months ago Matt and I thought we would have to part company due to anti-idling laws and our company's seemingly rigid pet policy.

Now the bad news. And it's mounting. We drove only about 242 miles to North Platte, NE from our company terminal where we got the truck before realizing some bugs that had to be fixed. Unfortunately they weren't the kind of juicy, crunchy bugs with wings in which I occasionally indulge, but technical crapola that caused us to go to the nearest Freightliner shop to have it fixed. A part was ordered to arrive Saturday so we spent the night Friday evening at the nearby Love's Travel Plaza .

At around 9 or 10pm we heard a loud scrape-crunch noise on our driver-side caused by some 4-month rookie driver whose passenger wife was too lazy to get out and spot for him to make sure he backed in next to us safely. Now he will likely lose his job, and we will have lots of downtime getting this damage fixed! See photos. So now while we waited for the technical stuff to get fixed, we looked forward to going back to the terminal and wait for them to do the body work. But they told us to wait until the middle of May when Matt and I take our vacation to have it fixed, since it would be at least a 1 week job. So we get to drive around showing off our new accident, while everyone thinks Matt probably caused it himself. Lovely. Oh well, everything has its price.

The part that sucks the most for me....is all the time I'm spending locked up in my kennel. All day while Matt transfered all his junk from one truck to the other, most of the day while we waited to be told what was needed to fix the truck, the day following the accident while we waited for UPS to deliver the part we needed, while the damage was being assessed at the corporate terminal by honchos of note, etc... It's a wonder I don't start making messes in this thing. Glad I have a towel in here...

Today we're in Ohio, on our way to Rochester, NY to deliver Monday (too much time to deliver), so we can get a load through home to have the nearby terminal also assess the damage and order parts and panels. Phew! Lots to do when rookies hit our truck!

Another Cartoon From Simon's Cat

2010-03-06T23:16:00.003-05:00

As most of you well know, Matt is a big fan of Simon's Cat (though personally I find him to be a frightful bore and hardly to be believed) and demands I post whatever the latest cartoon of his to be. So here it is.

Of course that bird would have been dead within a few seconds had he pelted ME with a snowball!

It Would Appear I Get To Stay After All.....Most Likely....

2010-03-06T00:28:00.006-05:00

Although I have known for several weeks, I wanted some time to go by just in case my employer changed their minds. But it seems to be that at moderate cost (to be explained later), there is no immediate need for me to find a new home. In fact I might be around next Christmas after all, provided I don't sneak out of the truck again, or get mauled by large dogs, or choke on my own vomit, or call Matt names again, or find a way to jump out of our 3rd story window at home, or jump out of the truck while it's in motion (say...62 mph or so), or anything like that. Now,...if only I could figure out how to work Matt's stereo....

Here are the rules of Matt's employer's new pet policy (subject to change at their friggin' whimsy):

Truck must be kept clean at all times. No exceptions. This was going to be a problem so long as I used clay kitty litter, but since switching to Yesterday's News there is virtually no tracking of anything or dust getting clogged in air filters.
Matt must pay for every air filter change. That means parts AND labor. Air filter refers to in-cab air filters, not the engine filters.
Pets are not allowed in any company buildings, even when trucks are worked on. This means that even in sub-zero weather, I have to go outside with Matt and wait for hours and hours for the work to be done, or else get a motel that allows pets, or take my chances at a pet motel where I usually go berserk in a cage and try to savage all humans who come near me.
If in the event that blah blah effects blah blah, then blah blah blah etc..... Okay you really don't need to read the rest of the crapola, but basically Matt can be assigned a brand new truck even though he has me with him now. He just has to pay for a lot of crap he didn't have to pay for before. That's all.

Our Last Christmas Together (Probably)

2009-12-24T21:14:00.003-05:00

When people out in the trucking world walk up to you and ask you why you aren't blogging so much anymore, it's time to post something. Not that total strangers are really doing this, but it's fun to pretend...

Well, another Christmas will arrive in a few hours... This means very little to me personally, since Christmas is a human kinda thing. But often times it results in me getting a bunch of treats from my manservant. Please don't tell Matt I already know he's giving me "Happy Hips" treats this year. Lovely, lovely chicken jerky treats with glucosamine and condroyton for well-lubed joints, which come in handy when you spend your days in a moving vehicle.

It may well be our last Christmas together unless Matt can pull a juicy rabbit out of a hat. In spite of those incriminating emails exchanged by global warming scientists, it doesn't look like those idiot state legislators will change their stupid anti-idling laws for trucks, which, if they did would mean no APU's or trucks that have onboard heaters sensitive to pet dander. Please don't get me started on stupid, chicken-little humans...

Matt and I will do our best to enjoy our last Christmas together before he searches for a new home for me, and I come off the road at last. I will miss Matt dearly, but not the truck so much. There just isn't enough room in there for me to run around. Climbing things is fun, but it's like a large prison cell. And I think Matt will miss me, too, but not my litterbox or scratchpost which take up what little space we have.

Parting will mean starting a new chapter in both our lives, which is both exciting and scary. Will my new man (or woman) servant remember to medicate me twice daily? Will he or she even remember to feed me twice daily? Will they scoop the litter out of my litterbox frequently? Will they go "eeeewwwwww!!!" when I lick my butt? One can never tell what the future holds.

Happy Anniversary! Four Years And Counting...

2009-09-30T19:02:00.006-04:00

Today is the fourth anniversary of my adoption of Matt as my owner, which I transacted at the Center For Animal Health And Welfare (formerly known as SPCA of Northampton County) in short order after I wooed him mercilessly by showing him the attention which he so lacked.

Four years with Matt means four years living in a semi truck. That means close quarter living conditions in all kinds of weather with the occasional trip home where my crow's nest awaits my passionate clawing. Things are still up in the air as far as how much longer we will live together. But it's been that way for a while now. Matt's employer forced him to trade the old truck in sooner than expected. And of course we were put in a crappy old truck (though not as old as the previous had become) because of little ol' me. This one has only 384,000 miles on it, so is probably good for another year at least. We can idle the truck in most places when it gets too cold or too hot at least until April or May of 2010. Then we have to do it carefully. By next Winter, though, I am no longer a truck rider, and I will be out with or without Matt. We can survive a summer with little or no idling, but not a winter. Read previous posts about the anti-idling laws stupid humans passed so far. By next Winter I will be 8 and one half years old.

I've gotten thinner and probably won't live a full cat-life due to my annoying food allergy, for which I take Prednisone. Perhaps I shall dwell on this earth only 2 or 3 more years tops. So I am taking pictures with Matt's iPhone camera (does not require thumbs to use!) and getting the most out of life by severely damaging my toys. No one knows what the future holds, but I thought I would at least bring everyone up to date on the present. Have a great life...all 9 of them.

Number Of Options Is Declining

2009-08-01T00:10:00.004-04:00

Sorry it has been so long since posting in my blog, but Matt hasnt wanted to deal with this since realizing I might have to grab my stick and handkerchief and hit the road like a hobo.

It was discussed between us that I might be okay at the shelter once I had to vacate the truck. But recently in the Atlanta area Matt had to drop me off at a pet resort for about 20 hours or so while he attended a safety meeting. Guess he wasn't allowed to idle the truck for A/C for me while he was in the all-day meeting, so I got to cool my claws in a large cage all day and night. I don't really remember much about what happened, except that I was really angry and tried to scratch everyone who came near me, even Matt when he picked me up. But I calmed down when he took me back out to the truck where everything was familiar. I guess I have gotten so used to things being the same all the time that I flip out over change. But the lady at the resort claimed I was upset over being caged. Hmmm. Is that not what they do at shelters? I seem to remember being caged at the shelter almost 4 years ago when Matt rescued me.

So Matt and I are still going over our options. The economy has tanked and freight is very slow, especially in the North East where we live. So much for a local driving job...

Thinking about getting Matt to create an advertisement of some kind offering me up for adoption and spreading it locally. Hate to resort to that so soon. Anybody got any ideas????

Anti-Idle Laws Mean I Go Back To The Shelter

2009-04-09T08:50:00.010-04:00

Okay, time for me to put in my two cents about this global warming thing.

First, I just wanna say that it is affecting both Matt and I already, even though the polar ice caps have not melted and we are not flooded out of our truck. No. Both of us, myself for certain, will be out of the truck long before then. And here's why:

Several states are passing legislation to outlaw truck engine idling. That means that when Matt and I park for the night at a truck stop, rest area or other approved truck parking area, the engine will have to be shut off during our D.O.T required 10 hour rest period.

"Oh, that is wonderful," you may say. "We will all breathe easier, and the sun will shine brighter, and roses and lollipops and all that crap-ola!"

What many of you non-truckers, or 4-wheelers as Matt likes to call them, fail to realize is that we actually live in these trucks, and in order for the interior of the cab to warm up to temperatures comparable to the ones in your own bedrooms at night, the engine must be running. You know, like in your car for instance.

Now to be fair, I should point out that most states will allow the trucks to idle when the temperature drops....TO 40 DEGREES!!! Other states will only allow idling at 32 or even 25 degrees or less! Now ask yourselves, how cold does it have to get outside before we turn on the furnace in our own home? And at what temperature do we set it? How warm do you think it gets in a truck with the engine off when the outside temperature is 40 degrees? Not very. And how rested will we be after sleeping in the freezing cold? Do you really want us on the road after that?

Technology has been very slow to catch up to the chicken-little-global-warming-hysteria. Yes there are things called APU's (auxiliary power unit) that attach to the sides of trucks which handle the interior cold and heat admirably. In fact our company has installed them on some of the older trucks, while Freightliner and International have sold us new trucks which have in-cab heaters that don't require engine idling. Problem solved, right?

NO! The APU's have these really expensive air filters which collect a lot of pet dander and hair and then require expensive maintenance. So expensive, in fact, that our company will not allow pets in trucks that have APU's. The same goes with the new trucks and their in-cab heaters. NO PETS ALLOWED. So Matt and I will be idling our old truck whenever we feel it necessary, and skirting the law in our outdated idle-only heat and A/C source, risking fines of between $300 and $500 per violation. The only alternatives would be to get a hotel room every night at $75 a pop ($60 + $15 pet fee, that comes to around $2,250 per month, and NOT reimbursed by the company), or running over our legal D.O.T. hours of service to get to the next idle friendly state and risking fines of $1,000 or more and months of imprisonment, OR sleeping with the engine off and catching pneumonia and even possibly freezing to death. Did I fail to mention that within 2 years most of the anti-idling states will no longer allow idling at ANY temperature? I will have to vacate the truck and return to the shelter, or Matt will have to find a local driving job in the middle of a nasty recession (which will not improve anytime soon if Obama imposes his Nazi-like Green Plans on industry).

Factories in third world countries and cow flatulence produce more green house gasses than us trying to keep warm at night. If these attitudes of idiot state legislators continue and more stupid laws are passed, trucking will become just another job that Americans won't do. Add it to the list of picking lettuce, construction, factory work, custodial duties, housekeeping, etc... Do we really want illegal immigrants who cannot speak English driving those big 80,000 lbs semi trucks down our nation's highways? And if not them then who? Ex-felons? Hate to tell you this, but that's already happening. Can you picture an ex-felon in every semi truck? They were felons in the first place because they couldn't control their impulses. Can you picture the road rage element?

Matt and I both love clean air and clear water and believe in a certain intelligent level of government regulation and oversight. But hysterically cramming it down our throats with "the sky is falling" attitudes means that some will be trampled upon in the ensuing stampede. I thought these liberals believed in no one left behind. Only when it suits them, I guess.

Kittychism

2009-02-09T20:49:00.006-05:00

Sorry I haven't been posting in a while, but I count on Matt to do the typing while I dictate, and Matt hasn't been doing any typing AT ALL!!! He seems to be thinking about other things these days, and doing an awful lot of reading and stuff. It's all about the same subject: Catholicism!

Yes, it looks like Matt is going Catholic. Who would've guessed? He spends hours praying with that necklace thing with the cross at the end of it, but won't let me play with the beads. He says I'll swallow them. Well, of course! That's the whole point of playing with them.

MATT: It's called a Rosary.

BUSTER: So you took the thorns off?

MATT: It doesn't have thorns. It's just a Rosary... We use it to keep track of where we are in our prayer-meditation.

BUSTER: Like Yoga? I hear you chanting while you do it.

MATT: We aren't chanting. We are praying out loud over and over again, while meditating on the mysteries of faith.

BUSTER: Whodunit's? I love a good mystery...

MATT: I think I need to educate you about a few things---

BUSTER: Don't bother. I'll just watch you. Hey, are you going to have me blessed at that St. Francis Feasty thing?

MATT: I wonder if there's a catechism for cats.

BUSTER: Oh, I did that shortly after I was born. They called it Kittychism.

MATT: Kittychism?

BUSTER: Yup. I learned all about the Seven Scratchposts, the resurrection of the body...nine times, and the indulgences (hairball treats). I was even confirmed at the Church of the Sorrowful Meaooow.

MATT: Who taught you to be such a smart-ass?

BUSTER: (Stares at Matt and smiles)

MATT: I see... I think you're jealous.

BUSTER: And why is that?

MATT: Because I finally came home. I've been wandering the wilderness for years on end, spending most those years angry at God. Now I'm picking up where I left off at age 7, getting my first Communion at Easter Vigil, and my confirmation at Pentecost.

BUSTER: You were angry at God? That doesn't sound good. Glad I didn't know you back then.

MATT: It wasn't good. And I wasn't much fun to be around either, except when I had a few beers in me.

BUSTER: Oh, brother! Okay, I'll try to be more supportive then.

MATT: That would be nice. But either way, I am out of the wilderness and back home where I belong.

A Year In Review

2008-12-31T21:05:00.006-05:00

Well, another year has nearly ended. And I suppose I must now do what everyone else does at this time: I must recap the whole miserable year so you can see how awful it was for Matt and myself.

First of all, I threw up a total of 42 times, give or take a vomit. I was on the trans dermal prednisolone, which was rubbed into the inside flap of both ears twice a day....ughh. But a month and a half ago my ears were spared and I am now being forced to endure some pseudo-chicken flavored icky ick blaaaahhhhkkkkk stuff that Matt calls liquid prednisolone that he forces into my mouth with some sort of syringe. Although my ears no longer sting so much, my mouth has lost a great deal of its taste. All that just so I can digest my food. Just feed me mice and crunchy birds and I will be fine. Back to nature...outside into the elements...no, too cold. Maybe in the Spring. No, too wet. Aaahh, the Summer beckons me with its sweet aromas of dumpsters and roadkill. No, too many fleas. Forget the Autumn, too many prankster brats running amok.

Matt and I got an apartment, so no more hotels on our off-time. This means I got me a crow's nest to perch in. That was probably the only really good thing this year, that crow's nest.

Now Matt has a tree that he brought in stuffed in a box. He put it together in about an hour. I never knew you could do that. It had no roots or nothing. Then he put all this shiny junk on it. The junk looks cool on the tree, but no smells, birds, or bugs. He needs to take it back and get a better one. Maybe one with juicy squirrels living inside a knot-hole or something.

We have not heard from batboy in quite a while. He is either hibernating or he's dead. I am hoping for the former so I can have another crack at him. He looked so delicious, like a little angel-mouse (mouse with wings). Yum yum.

So anyway, I (we) hope next year, which should happen tonight sometime, will be better than last year (this year up til now).

"Of Course You Know This Means War!"

2008-12-20T22:21:00.005-05:00

From the BBC in Toronto, ON:

[Mice may be responsible for a blaze that killed nearly 100 cats at an animal shelter near the Canadian city of Toronto, officials say.

The fire at the humane society shelter in Oshawa also killed three dogs and some rats that were up for adoption.

An initial report from the fire marshal says mice or rats chewing through electrical wires in the ceiling are likely to have sparked the blaze.

Offers of help have been pouring in from animal lovers across Canada.

"It's unfortunate and ironic that mice caused the fire that killed the cats," Toronto Humane Society spokesman Ian McConachie told the BBC News website.

"Unfortunately, the mice probably perished in the fire as well," he added.

The $250,000 (£137,000) fire is still under investigation by the Ontario Fire Marshal's office.

Mr McConachie said it would be some days before a final report would be released.

In all, only nine dogs, two cats and one rat were rescued in Wednesday's early morning blaze.

They are being housed in a nearby municipal shelter, while volunteers rebuild the burnt-down shelter for the Humane Society of Durham Region. ]

Matt and I are in Georgia now, getting ready to go up to the Toronto area. I will be on guard for any mice with matches and propane or possibly Molotov Cocktails being flung at our big rig, as we risk our lives while adding to Canada's pathetic GNP (while simultaneously shrinking our own trade deficit).

Though I think from recent experience that bats might have been in unison with the waywardly and genetically confused mice creatures that have started this insane war of terror, there has been no evidence to support this hypothesis. If any proof surfaces, I will scratch their little blind eyes out and rip their wings to shreds.

Isn't it strange that a rat was rescued, too? I'll bet the little rat bastard had something to do with it, and I can make him talk if necessary. Perhaps Matt will steer the big truck over to the shelter so I can question him thoroughly.

The grieving process must begin soon...and so close to Christmas.

(I did not invent Pinky and the Brain)

Bat Boy Found In Attic

2008-12-03T22:46:00.007-05:00

When Matt and I were passing through town for merely a night’s stay at home, we took only the barest essentials and brought them upstairs in one trip. After we both settled down for the night, I heard some noise coming from the horizontal vent above, but just before, the front door. That’s where the air gets sucked into by the furnace. But this noise was a climbing sound of small feet. AND I COULD SMELL SOMETHING ALIVE and possibly quite juicy, and hear it breathing its little quick breaths of air. I knew immediately what it was ------ a BAT! A male bat, to boot!

Oh, it had been so long since I caught a bat and ripped its little wings off while hearing its little screams, egging me on to rip some more. So I sat below the vent...waiting....and waiting. Finally at about 5am (according to Matt) I started meowing loudly and longingly at the little creature, who straddled the grates staring down at me and thinking he was safe.

Matt could see some figure silouetted on the vent, too, and mumbled something about a mouse. Then the bat moved. He started climbing around on the grate toward his exit. For some reason Matt gasped and uttered "tarantula!" It was pretty early, after all. He ran to the kitchen and got some red container with a squeeze handle and ran back to me. Then he set it down and picked me up and carried me over to the kennel and locked me in! That bastard! Was I to miss out on some juicy, bat fricassee?

Matt started squirting the bat with this awful smelling stuff that obviously made him much too toxic for me to enjoy as a meal, but perhaps not too toxic to tear to pieces. The bat started climbing around to avoid the spray, as he seemed to not like it much. Then he climbed onto the smaller, vertical outside vent (facing the hallway) that Matt could see through the ceiling vent where the bat had been stalked by me. THEN Matt saw it was a bat. "That’s a bat!" Matt said. "I think I got him dizzy," he added.

So Matt took a towel and lowered the ceiling door from which stairs unfolded, and slowly climbed up the little staircase ladder and switched on the light. Apparently Matt forgot that bats avoid light, as his quarry (MY friggin quarry!) crawled up the side of the outside vent and disappeared. With no hole in the wall facing the outside hallway, he must have found a secret passage between two slabs of drywall, making his way to some other lucky cat’s apartment.

Word has it that the maintenance guy took a shop vac into our attic and searched for MY bat and found nothing. So a heavy screen mesh was used to cover the whole outer vent to keep the bat and his very toxic feces out of the apartment. And just to be safe, Matt bought some sticky paper at Walmart to lay around the attic floor next time we pass through again. But if that little fellah makes his way into the furnace air ducts and comes out one of the openings in the middle of the livingroom, I’ll be there. Wherever there is squeaking, I’ll be there. Where Matt sleeps and bats may swoop for a quick meal of blood, I’ll be there. I am a very light sleeper when little sounds are near. I will have my ounce of flesh...someday.

(photo borrowed from Bat Guys)

Trash Of All Kinds At TA's These Days

2008-11-12T01:36:00.003-05:00

Sure has been a while since Matt let me post on my own blog!!! He's been obsessed with the election and all, and then angry afterward. I really don't see what the fuss is about. The cat hater lost in the Dem primary, you know the one who gave the cat away to strangers when they didn't need him anymore.

Today we saw lots of trash! First when we woke up at the break of dawn, we looked over to this trash compactor and saw a mountain of trash. Matt asked the lady at the desk when he went in to shower why that was so. She said it broke that morning, yes just that morning (yeah right, look at that mountain) and that repair guys were coming to fix it. Well, we may go back through Oklahoma City to the TA truck stop and check on the progress.

Then we went to Ft. Worth, TX where Matt walked around in circles for a half hour in Cabela's parking lot (exercise or something) and then to Amarillo to another TA. Here we saw more trash. But this was in the form of 14 to 15 year old prostitutes knocking on truck doors and saying "hey baby, yah want some commercial company?" When they got to ours Matt shook his head "no" and they kept walking. Then Matt phoned the police after the girls climbed into a truck, and the police came. Now get this, there were two girls, kinda short, in this guy's truck and the police came and the trucker talked his way out of it. The cop didn't climb inside to search the sleeper compartment where the girls were probably hiding, but stood at the doorway and talked to the driver for a long time. Then the cop left. And the underage girls are still hookers. Go figure. Maybe they snuck out the side door when we weren't looking. But there sure was a lot of trash today.

Happy Anniversary --- 3 Years And Counting

2008-09-30T16:53:00.005-04:00

Today marks my third anniversary with Matt who adopted me from the SPCA in Easton, PA. Now it's called The Center For Animal Health And Welfare, and is still a NO KILL shelter. I am grateful to them for providing me a home from December of '04 until September 30, 2005 when Matt rescued me. But I would never wish to return. I had enough to eat and all that, but I had to spend most of my time in a cage with no one to pet me or throw me toys to play with. And some of the other cats were quite scary...you know, mental and stuff. Matt compares it to the island of lost toys...or something called Cuckoos Nest or something.

I never figured on being adopted by a trucker. It's a nonstop life of bouncing around, turning sharp, stopping abruptly, cramped quarters, and changing views. Though many of the views look like many others we've seen. We go home to an apartment nowadays. Used to be hotels. That was always interesting. But now I get to go home to the same place each time with a crow's nest to climb up into and huge windows to look out of.

Mixed Review On New Truck Offering

2008-09-30T16:16:00.006-04:00

Matt and I had a look at the new trucks the company is buying. The reviews are mixed. The new truck is called Cascadia by Freightliner and has a new look, but not that new.

First the good bits.

1) Better insulation! The walls are thicker and better sealed, which means fewer ear drops for me when it gets cold. The Century we have now lets an arctic breeze in through the window crank and the door handle. Our current truck has to start up and shut off very frequently while we sleep in order to blow hot or cold air to maintain a comfortable temperature. No longer an issue.

2) Bunk furnace! Now we don't have to run the truck at all during the winter months. We can leave it shut off at night and sleep with no disturbing vibrations or shaking, thanks to a separate heating unit in the sleeper compartment where Matt and I snooze.

3) Better fuel economy! I don't really understand this one, but Matt says it means the company is less likely to go belly-up with lower fuel costs.

4) Comfy seats! Good for Matt. I lay on the dashboard.

5) Closet doors on closets! No more mesh nets that allow junk to spill out onto my tender little brain-cover. My noggin will be happier for it.

And now the not so good bits...

1) A/C not separate! We still have to idle the stupid truck in the Summer months just to stay cool. If Matt leaves the top sleeper windows open and the bottom vents open and the front windows open a little I won't die from suffocation. Also helps if he leaves the blower on low (so as not to drain the battery) to keep some sort of air circulation.

2) Power windows on both sides! Personally I have no problem with this. All I need to do is stomp on the buttons located on the inside door panels and the windows open up...FOR ME! I can get out and run around and get lost in joyful abandon. Matt says I will wind up in the kitchen of a Korean restaurant if this happens, even though I assure him I would return...eventually.

3) Power door locks on both sides! This means I can step on the buttons to allow strangers in the truck to pet me and give me treats while Matt is away...or asleep in the bunk. I get so lonely when he's gone. Again, no problem for me. And I don't see too many Koreans in truckstops.

4) Brake-seize-up-thingy! There is this thing that causes the brakes to seize up if you get too close to another truck or 4-wheel thingy, all for the sake of safety. I really don't know much about this except that the trucker we spoke to yesterday swore a lot about it...and loudly. I learned lots of new words yesterday, but cannot yet manipulate my mouth or tongue to speak them. Matt won't allow me to type them.

5) No place for the XM Radio antenna! In fact Matt says there is no where to attach anything at all on these new Cascadias. No flags, no banners, no CB antennas except a mount for small antennas only.

6) Limited storage! No more big open storage space above the windshield for me to jump up into (that makes Matt so angry!). Matt will miss it, too.

Matt says progress is two steps forward but one step backwards. I fail to see the logic there as lessons are usually painful to learn. Why take the one step back? Do humans forget the pain involved in learning? Go figure. Anyway we will probably be getting a new truck in March or so when the old one gets turned in. The old one should have 500,000 miles on it by then, maybe more.

Feast Of St. Francis

2008-09-22T02:26:00.004-04:00

We're back on the road and driving lots of miles, about 3,600 in the first week, to be exact. Now we're out of hours and taking a day off to make them reset. Thirty-four hours of peace and quiet and Matt yelling and throwing stuff at me when I try to eat food off his plate. Aaaahhh. This is heaven. So relaxing.

Matt says we're in East Lexington, VA, but all I see is a parking lot with a lot of other trucks facing us. Two of them have dogs that keep barking at me, even though it's 2:30 in the friggin' AM. Looks like we're gonna miss the blessing of the pets at the local Lutheran church on October 4th. Yeah, something to do with St. Francis of Assisi or something. Guess he liked blessing animals to make them go to Heaven. Wonder if I could go there. Guess Matt doesn't want me to join him in the afterlife, or he'd get me blessed with all the other animals. Doesn't seem fair to me, no not at all. Doesn't seem fair that he eats in front of me, either. He eats some great smelling stuff, yes he does. Sometimes I forget myself and lunge toward him to grab it before it gets inside his mouth. He doesn't like that and yells at me.

MATT: You know, I shouldn't have to cut in so much to correct you. But I should mention that the blessing doesn't mean you go to Heaven when you die. It simply means you are blessed. Maybe you'll be healed of your ailments, or perhaps you'll be happier. But true salvation comes from accepting Christ as your Lord and Savior.

BUSTER: Anything in the Bible about pets doing that?

MATT: What? Accepting Christ?

BUSTER: Yeah.

MATT: Not sure, really... Animals are kinda dumb in the Bible,...and elsewhere.

BUSTER: Think He'd make an exception?

MATT: Hmmm... Depends upon where your heart is. (pause) Hey, I've got the St. Francis prayer for pets...if you want ME to bless you...

BUSTER: Sure, why not?

MATT: Okay, bow your head.

BUSTER: Okay (bowing head)

MATT: Blessed are You, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask that you bless Buster Kitty. By the power of Your love, enable him to live according to Your plan. May we always praise You for all Your beauty in creation. Blessed are You, Lord our God, in all Your creatures! Amen.

BUSTER: I liked the part about the fish and birds. Wish He'd call forth some of them right now for me. Well, thanks Matt. I feel better all ready.

MATT: Hold on! Gotta sprinkle you with Holy Water.

BUSTER: Hey, is that the time? Gotta be going, I'd say.

MATT: It's 3am and we're out of hours, remember? Now hold still. (sprinkles water from plastic bottle).

BUSTER: Yeeeaaaaaccchhhhh!!!! (shakes violently) That's not Holy! That's Dasani!!!

MATT: I had to improvise. And there was no time for me to get ordained.

BUSTER: Oh great.

Matt's Pilgrimage To Ground Zero

2008-09-14T07:52:00.010-04:00

BUSTER: Okay, so are you gonna tell me why you got up so early on Thursday? And why you got back so late? And why you didn't go to bed until Friday morning? Were you...were you out there...feeding some other cat????

MATT: No! Don't worry. You're the only cat for me, Buster.

BUSTER: Then would yah feed me NOW, please? The big hand and little hand say I'm hungry!

MATT: Sure, but let me answer your questions first.

BUSTER: *sigh*

MATT: You know about 9-11, right?

BUSTER: Yeah, even I know about that. Very sad, yes. And that's why you blog, right?

MATT: Yes. And do you remember me telling you I was on vacation at the time? And that by the mere flip of a coin I flew out west instead of NYC?

BUSTER: Yes, and you would have visited the WTC, too. You just don't know which day it would have been. Yes...you told me all that. But you flew back home on the 10th, right?

MATT: Yeah, because Priceline.com could only get me a flight back home then. I was trying for the 11th or 12th. It was the last time I flew on a plane.

BUSTER: Okay, so what?

MATT: So I dodged a bullet, that's what. But most of all, my country was attacked! So 9-11 is a big deal to me. And that's where I was.

BUSTER: Where? NYC? WTC? You're nuts!

MATT: They got it cleaned up. And they're starting to rebuild...but it's very slow going.

BUSTER: So what happened there?

MATT: Well, I drove up to Carteret and parked the car. Then I hopped the Jersey Transit Bus into Midtown Manhattan and caught the E train down to Ground Zero. But when I got there no one could get in to see the commemoration except dignitaries, victims' family members, or the press.

BUSTER: Couldn't you claw your way up a tree or the side of one of them tall buildings I saw on TV? That's what I would have done.

MATT: Then I should've taken you with me.

BUSTER: So what did you do?

MATT: Well, I drove all that way after getting up at 2:30am to report on the events for my blog. I felt I had to do...something. So I went to the desk where they gave out press passes and asked for one. After all, I am a blogger who reports news along with commentary, and I was there to cover the event. So why not?

BUSTER: And they gave you one??? Just like that? No strip search?

MATT: Yep! Of course they asked for credentials, first.

BUSTER: But you don't have any!

MATT: My blog is my credential. Fortunately one of them was armed with a Blackberry and visited St. Blogustine. Since my name and picture matched the ones on my blog, they let me in. Oh, and my not being a crackpot helped a lot.

BUSTER: Yeah (laughing), but do they know about THIS blog?

MATT: You mean my blog about a cat who talks? No, I didn't think it was a good time to mention that.

BUSTER: Smart move.

MATT: So they gave me a press pass to wear around my neck and I was escorted inside.

BUSTER: Inside?

MATT: Past the barriers. Past the obstructing trees that hid the events from the masses. All the way to the grandstand in the rear where the press was herded. We were not allowed to venture forth, though some did. But I got several good pictures during the event. I expected McCain and Obama to say a few words or even get on stage, but they never appeared.

BUSTER: Where were they?

MATT: Down in the pit meeting with other victims' family members. There were quite a lot of them.

BUSTER: So how was it?

MATT: Very depressing, very emotionally draining. Lots of crying, even after 7 years. Something was taken from all of us, but none more than from the family members. It was hard to watch at times.

BUSTER: So what did you do after that?

MATT: After taps was played I walked out the way I came in and followed the herd.

BUSTER: Ooh. Not a good move. Last time I did that I wound up at a shelter for 11 months!

MATT: I stopped in my tracks when I saw St. Paul's Chapel. Figured I would go inside and check it out. Lots of people there praying, so I joined them. Then they had a service full of politically correct prayers about diversity and other liberal chantings, so I left. Plus, the guy in the balcony with the video camera seemed rather intrusive.

BUSTER: No doubt.

MATT: So I walked around to the rear of the Chapel and found the crackpot, wingnut Bush-haters with their printed tee-shirts and signs making the wildest accusations you could imagine. Also found singing Christians and a prayer station, who by the way seemed much more in tune with God than anyone running that Chapel, IMHO.

BUSTER: So you took more pictures...

MATT: Yes, then I hopped the train back up to Midtown.

BUSTER: Did you see anyone you recognized?

MATT: Well, now that you mention it. While I was waiting to be escorted into the press area, I almost tripped over some lady who was kneeling to take pictures of the singing Mennonites. I was going to say something to her but several people squeezed between us, and then I was ushered out. Turns out that was Urban Infidel, who found plenty of things to photograph on the outside. Also thought I saw Pam from Atlas Shrugs, too. But she didn't look quite the same, so I couldn't be sure enough to walk up to her and say hello.

BUSTER: Too bad. So you hopped the train...

MATT: Yeah, up to Midtown. Wanted to go up to the NewsCorp building to see if I might spot anyone I recognize. Then I saw this painted on a firehouse door on 8th St..

BUSTER: Cool.

MATT: THEN I took a very crowded, jam-packed, sweaty bus back to my car and drove home.

BUSTER: And you were up til 5:30am fiddling about with downloading, uploading, organizing, posting, etc...?

MATT: Yep. Was up for 27 hours. Haven't done that since college. Still feel like crap.

BUSTER: No doubt.

Roller-Coaster Roads In PA

2008-09-06T00:42:00.003-04:00

Matt and I have been very busy...driving. Matt does the driving and I...watch. Not much to report these days.

Yesterday we drove down to Hanover, PA on hwy 94, which is a two-lane road. It has many steep hills which stop abruptly at the top and then slope down rather sharply. Needless to say, Matt hit a couple of them rather fast. Usually when we drive down there he hits the brakes just before the top. But on these two he waited until we crested the point and then he hit the brakes. I almost lost my breakfast all over his log book. According to Matt it was like Carl Mauldin in Streets Of San Francisco! Our wheels didn't even touch the ground on one of those flying leaps. The scenery was nice, though. Lots of fruit trees and orchards and the like, which all looked blurry to me for a bit...

We're going home soon so I can jump in my crow's nest and feel tall...like Matt.

TV Dinner

2008-08-20T21:46:00.001-04:00

Shameless Plug For A Friend's Book

2008-08-15T21:20:00.003-04:00

Okay okay. Matt has this friend from college, some girl he used to know. Her name is Julie and she wrote this novel or something. He says it's well researched and a good read. And if you don't believe him you can go to Amazon and see the ratings. Matt already read it and liked it...even though it's a book for girls!

MATT: Why do I leave this stuff up to you? It is not a chick-book, but a Christian romance novel that would appeal to any Anglophile of either sex, and written in the same vein as your average Jane Austen book. It's well-researched and quite interesting. The story is wonderfully woven and it kept my interest throughout. You know how I often read almost half a book and set it down...and forget about it?

BUSTER: Uh...no. I hadn't noticed....because I can't read.

MATT: And that's a shame. But the book is quite enjoyable.

And So It Goes....

2008-08-15T21:11:00.002-04:00

We're back on the road again and Matt is hitting every possible pothole he can find. Yes, I have already thrown up. It was at the end of the first day. Matt fed me too soon, so I barfed. Go figure.

MATT: Well, you were begging so much I figured your appetite was strong enough to hold down some food.

BUSTER: (shaking head) Never never never NEVER listen to me when I do that. You know I can't think straight when it's dinner time. Never feed me the first day back on the road. I will puke every time.

MATT: Yeah, I was hopeful. Sorry.

BUSTER: And what's with force feeding me water?

MATT: The prednisolone dehydrates you...and you don't seem to notice that it impacts your...you know.

BUSTER: My entrails? My juicy intestines?

MATT: I think I'M gonna barf now.

BUSTER: Coooool.

Vomitus Maximus

2008-08-06T13:25:00.007-04:00

Well, I couldn't quite make 30 days without puking, but I did go from July 6th to August 4th and then let loose with a huge barf all over Matt's suitcase. He seemed to take it well, wiping it up without cursing this time but bemoaning my missing the 30 day mark.

Last month while on break Matt and I stopped at the Giant to pick up Matt's food items, some of which were thrown carelessly in the trunk of his little white 4-wheeler. When we got back to the apartment it appeared to me that a couple of things were missing as he carelessly threw items in the large cooler thingy. For three days, due largely to the outside heat, Matt stayed with me at home. On the fourth day Matt says he went to the car and opened the door and almost fell over from the stench. When opening the trunk he found the watermelon he forgot to take upstairs. So he threw it out and sprayed the inside of the trunk and 4-wheeler interior with Lysol. It seemed to work.

A couple of days ago when we returned from our tour of the exotic Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states and even Texas and Minnesota in the large red truck thing, Matt had the same experience again with stench in the 4-wheeler. But this time he loaded me and lots of stuff from the truck into the 4-wheeler, went to the same grocery store and got food stuff, then came home. Both of us smelled like the interior of the 4-wheeler by then. Uuugggghhhhh!

The next morning, rather than spray, he decided to empty out the stinky 4-wheeler completely (it had lots of junk in it) so he could wipe it all down. In doing this he found in the trunk an old package of once-fresh-and-delicious, Johnsonville brats (5 to a package, I am told --I can't count that high) buried under other stuff, that had gone VERY BAD over the past month. They were wrapped well, but they turned color and smelled powerfully rancid with old meat juice dripping. Considering the summer heat over the past month, it surprises me that there wasn't a pack of hungry, rabid dogs awaiting our arrival for the opening of the trunk, or perhaps buzzards circling overhead looking for their chance to grab some dead flesh.

With Clorox wipes and LOTS of Lysol spray, Matt hopes he has finally fixed the stinky car situation and that we can travel again without taking on an odor such as this. My money says he'll have to set the 4-wheeler on fire to really fix things. Matt refuses.

A Health Breakthrough?

2008-07-30T14:41:00.004-04:00

As of last Monday I am back on Pro Plan for breakfast and dinner. It seems that whenever Matt skips a month in giving me that spot on the back of my neck to kill fleas, ticks, and earmites, I stop puking so much. Every vet we’ve visited told us it couldn’t be the Revolution, that I would have thrown up right away and then stopped. But application of Revolution lasts 30 days, which is about how long my bout with vomiting lasts.

So now we’re trying to reinstitute the Pro Plan cereal back into my diet to see if I can handle that. If I can then Matt will try to wean me off the Prednisone, too. He’s still mixing the Hill’s allergen formula with Pro Plan, so I’m not sailing free yet. But been on it for eight days and no puking, so crossing my toes on this one. I’ve really missed the Pro Plan!

Oops! Watch Your Head!!!

2008-07-17T00:19:00.001-04:00

Now this is something that has never happened to us...though it could have. Our truck is very tall.

Technorati And Other Issues

2008-07-16T21:58:00.002-04:00

BUSTER: So why the long face??? Oh sorry, you can't help that, can you.

MATT: Have you done time in the kennel lately?

BUSTER: Look, I didn't mean to offend. Don't get all thin-skinned and Obamma'd at me. I just wondered why you look so down.

MATT: I'm not down, just pissed off.

BUSTER: Okay, that's another thing. Are we saying piss now? Is that what we're doing?

MATT: Good point. I am vexed about Technorati rating St. Blogustine a mere 15. I've got 60 blog reactions on St. Blogustine and they still rate me that measly number. And I'm down from 20, which wasn't very high to begin with. I think it's a mistake....you know, to rate St. Blogustine that low.

BUSTER: Really? They rated St. Blogustine too low? What a horrible thing to do to St. Blogustine! I mean, to St. Blogustine no doubt. But I wonder if mentioning your blog so many times in ONE post will change that rating.

MATT: I dunno. Maybe. I mean I guess it won't. Because then I could link almost every word to St. Blogustine without even mentioning the blog name. You know?

BUSTER: Hmm. Yeah, I see. But why bother?.....Let's talk about something else.

MATT: Like?

BUSTER: Like your new diet. Why are you feeding me less while YOU are on a diet?

MATT: I didn't realize I was doing that... You want more food? Sorry, stupid question.

BUSTER: Uh-huh. A little more cereal in that dish would help fill me out if you don't mind.

MATT: Okay, just try to keep it down. You know....no puking.

Pissed In Gary, IN

2008-07-09T14:36:00.005-04:00

We were on the road for a couple of days and now we're stranded. Matt says this may happen more often because the truck is getting older. But this sucks. I gotta sit in the kennel because the morons at Freightliner in Gary, IN call their building a "pet free zone." Yeah, I think people in Gary, IN have bigger fish to fry than banning pets from buildings. Try cutting down on all those murders you guys have. And maybe give up doing those home invasions for a time. You might find the quality of life goes up a little more abruptly when you do that instead of banning pets from air conditioned refuges.

The starter has gone out again in the truck. We had to wait 3 hours for some guy from Gary, IN to drive 8 miles in a utility truck to South Holland at the Lincoln Oasis on I-80 to tell us that. Then he attached a chain to our front bumper and pulled us until the truck started. Now we sit at the Gary Freightliner and wait. Matt hasn't showered yet today...and it's kinda hot out. You can imagine he reeks like my litter box about now. And ohhhh...he's in a foul mood today. And mine isn't much better. And the day isn't even close to being over yet...

Update--

Wow, what a difference several hours make. Yes, we are still in Gary, IN and the Freightliner guys are still stupid, but we gots us a hotel room!!! Yeah!!! There is nothing quite like checking into a new place with different carpeting and different curtains and fixtures and other things to scratch! Oh yes! I am having fun here driving Matt crazy. Hey! he got a pizza. I'll try to kick it out of his hands. Ooop! Matt has picked me up and is putting me in my kennel.

BUSTER: Hey! Not so rough.

MATT: Do you know what a little ass you're making of yourself? Do you know I only got 3 hours of sleep last night and 5 the night before?

BUSTER: I wasn't counting...but it seemed like you didn't lay down and breathe heavily for very long.

MATT: No, I didn't. And this room! Eeeewww, the smell....like a whorehouse. They used way too much air freshener in here.

BUSTER: I don't notice. I've been licking my butt for the last hour.

MATT: Eewwwww.

BUSTER: No, really!...squeeky clean!!!

Things That Go BOOM!!!

2008-07-04T15:02:00.003-04:00

Today I am hiding under the couch at home from things outside that make a loud and sudden booming noise. I don't know how anyone else can live around that racket, but it has caused me to make several trips to the litter box. Once I almost didn't make it in time.

Matt has assured me that things are better here than in the truck right now, and that it's quieter and safer here at home. He's really full of it. Those kids outside have turned our once quiet street into a war zone. I'm trying to convince Matt to take his .44 mag Ruger Redhawk outside and show those little bastards what a real noise-maker is like. But he refuses. Something about felonious wrongful death or some such hairball junk. I dunno.

Stupid, Stupid, AT&T Wireless

2008-06-29T00:52:00.002-04:00

Have not posted in a while for two reasons: first, Matt has not trimmed my nails in a while which are getting VERY LONG, causing me to hit the wrong keys. And second, AT&T Wireless set us up with a bum Sierra Wireless USB Connect unit. Please be patient. We will post somewhat regularly again when things are corrected. Until then you may not even notice that we are not posting....

The Caves

2008-06-19T22:56:00.004-04:00

Today marked another first in my life as a trucker cat. For the first time I entered…The CAVES!!! These are located in Independence, MO as well as Kansas City, MO and other places nearby. In case you don’t have a clue as to what I’m talking about,…ask Matt.

MATT: I told you what to say about that. Tell them about the movie Deep Impact.

BUSTER: Okay, okay. There was this movie….Deep Impact…in which they all went to the caves…to live or something….so they wouldn’t die when the meteor crashed into the Earth…or something.

MATT: Yes, very good. The famous Caves which are always about 78 degrees year round, no matter how hot or cold it is outside. Lots of microfilm is stored here, and many businesses have warehouses located in many of these locations due to the advantages of the naturally consistent temperature. But today—

BUSTER: (interrupting) –Today we went there and some truck before us had crashed into a power thingy that makes electricity for lights and such. It was pitch black for the humans, but I could see just fine. Matt should’ve let me maneuver the passages with the headlights off.

MATT: Oh yes, that would have been great! It’s very tight maneuvering even with the lights on, but with them off I had to take extra care not to scrape the truck and trailer on the cave walls which were next to impossible to see. And to make things more interesting the walls are oddly shaped---they are not straight vertical from ceiling to floor. They still look like they were hastily gutted by some large apparatus you see in coal mining. And when I have to make a turn around a corner my tractor is nearly scraping one wall while the trailer barely misses the other. Here’s a couple pictures with the lights on. The lights were on one minute and out the next.

BUSTER: I can tell the rest of it if you don't mind. The lights were on one minute and out the next. Matt was stumbling around, fumbling for his flashlight, while I simply admired myself for my night optics. We both agreed, however, that there was too much diesel fuming going on in the Caves. We were happy to leave.

Back On The Road Again

2008-06-08T21:31:00.005-04:00

The two-week vacation has ended and we are back on the road. In fact we've been out now for an entire week, running like crazy from here to there for a total of about 3,300 miles. We are out of hours and taking a day of rest while our hours reset for tomorrow.

Matt thinks it's great to have so many miles...as if business is picking up again. But I'm having a hard time adjusting to the truck again after being off for so long. And that air conditioning---UGH! He has it cranked all the time, it seems. I don't care for it, myself. It hurts my ears. Though I guess it's better than roasting with the doors and windows shut.

No flies yet to chase after, but lots of mosquitoes out early this year. Must be all that rain we've seen. And storms. While in Brookville, PA last week at a truck stop, Matt and I noticed some quickly swirling clouds in a circular motion above us in the midst of all those dark storm clouds, so we beat it on out of there pronto! And only 10 miles or so down the road we got a dose of hail. Not gravel sized but golf-ball! Then more in TN on the way to Chattanooga. We had to pull off the road both times, but it was dangerous because everyone else had the same idea. So Matt blew the horn while I reached out and clawed the air at them to frighten them into submission so they'd move...and they did. But I got no treats for my involvement in saving us.

Right now I'm typing this with my strap-on opposable thumbs while laying on the driver's seat (where I belong) while Matt is watching 3:10 To Yuma, which he says is really good, but is a remake of an older version which he hasn't seen. Oh well.

Don't you hate it when they show pretty much the whole movie in the trailer?

Oh Boy, I'm On Vacation....Yaaawwn

2008-05-24T12:08:00.008-04:00

Been on vacation for over a week now at the apartment...*YAAAAAAAAWWN*...that I've become fully and completely bored. Two days ago I started counting things. I counted the blades on the window blinds, how many steps it takes from my litter box to the crow's nest, from the crow's nest to the fridge, the fridge to the litter box to the window perch, to Matt's bed, etc...

I miss seeing the scenery fly by at high speeds. It made me sick at first, and I had to bury my head under Matt's bunk pillow the first day on the road. But now I guess I've gotten so used to it...so used to it, in fact, that I long for it. Is that strange? All day long I sit around the apartment doing nothing. Even my toys, once a source of frenzied excitement to me, have become symbols of imprisoned inertia. I feel like John McCain at the Hanoi Hilton...but without the torture...or bad food...or lack of a controlled indoor climate...or other horrid living conditions, etc... Have I taken on some mental illness that requires me to be "confused?" Do I need to go to Confuse-A-Cat Ltd.???

I've Been Everywhere...

2008-05-13T00:02:00.005-04:00

BUSTER: Hey, that was pretty good.

MATT: Johnny Cash? Yep. Pretty good.

BUSTER: I feel just like him. Since I've been in the truck with you it seems like I've been just about everywhere.

MATT: Everywhere but the great North West. I'm pretty sure you haven't been to Washington or Oregon yet.

BUSTER: You seem a little down... You okay?

MATT: Not really. I found out from my employer that the final decision has been made, and you will have to vacate the truck by the end of next March.

BUSTER: Hmmm. I see. Well, that gives us til next March at least. Are you leaving too?

MATT: I kind of doubt it. I'm going to have to find you a new home.

BUSTER: A new home? You mean back to the shelter, right?

MATT: Well, I'm kinda obligated by the contract I signed when I adopted you that I would return you to them if we have to part company. That's good in a way, because they can take their time screening people who want to adopt you. Plus, they aren't run by the county now. They're a private non-profit organization, and they're still a no-kill shelter.

BUSTER: No-kill? Well, that's a relief!

MATT: I'd say "screw 'em" if they were.

BUSTER: You remember it took over 11 months for someone to adopt me last time around. That was you.

MATT: Yes, but you have some advantages now. This time you come with a box of toys, my phone number if the prospect has questions, and that $159 crow's nest. You won't be mystery kitty anymore. You'll have a nearly full medical history (last 3 years) and dossier with feeding and medicine recommendations along with a personality profile I will create very soon. I also plan to volunteer there on my time off, once per month or so, to keep an eye on how you're doing until they find someone to adopt you.

BUSTER: All that and a bag of hairball treats, eh?

MATT: I will hold onto you as long as I can and not part with you easily. You have been a true blessing for me since the day I adopted you. And you will surely be missed...

BUSTER: The feeling is mutual. But you know, a lot can happen between now and then. I mean, although not likely, what if another company buys your employer and feels differently about pets?

MATT: I dunno.

BUSTER: Or what if your friend Paul is right about fuel prices being a bubble about to burst, and the prices go down a bit, boosting the economy? You could probably find a job with a company that allows cats and get time under your belt until the real recession hits.

MATT: When did you get so smart?

BUSTER: All that XM Radio you listen to, I listen to, too.

MATT: But what if March comes around and I have to give you up?

BUSTER: Then you have to give me up... Look, I know you won't put me in a situation where my life is in danger. The shelter sucked before, but it wasn't THAT bad. And by then we will have had 3 and a half good years together. It's been quite a trip, to tell you the truth. I don't even think the other cats will believe me when I tell them I've been everywhere... But in all honesty,...if you weren't with me I don't think I'd want to live in a truck the rest of my life. I was a stray once so I'll probably never be allowed to roam outside again,...but to have that crow's nest everyday to jump up in with a view outside.... I might not mind if my new owner is an old lady who smells funny and wears flowery dresses. You know?

MATT: I know.

BUSTER: I'll be okay, in other words... How 'bout you?

MATT: I feel a little better about this now. Thanks.

Broke Down On I-76

2008-04-26T13:42:00.002-04:00

Here we sit waiting....and waiting....for someone to come by and fix our rig. We busted a turbo clamp and are waiting for road service. We are at mile marker 102 on I-76 in PA

Wow! They're here already....and fixed! Cool! We are on our way...

VERY BAD NEWS

2008-04-22T20:23:00.007-04:00

We are home now for a 4 day break from the road, but all is not well…

For a while now Matt and I have goofed off a bit on line in front of all you readers for our own enjoyment as well as yours (hopefully). But now a shadow has been cast by Matt’s employer, whose name shall not be uttered out loud.

Seems that because fuel prices have skyrocketed, most trucking companies have been searching for creative ways to cut down on costs. Some have been purchasing new trucks with APU units which heat/cool the interior of the cab without running the engine. Matt and I think this is a great idea. Or we did until we found out that having a pet in the truck with dander and sheddings causes the expensive filters to clog, causing other problems….

We don’t have an APU unit in ours, which means Matt idles the truck engine while he’s sleeping in the vehicle so we don’t freeze in the winter or die of heat stroke in the summer.

So, to make a long story short…. Matt’s employer has instituted a new pet policy which translates into a NO PET POLICY. By March 31^st, 2009 I will be forced to vacate the truck (owned by the company) and leave Matt to drive down the road alone once again.

I have asked Matt if he would consider quitting his fairly high paying job that he’s had for 5+ years and work for another company which would allow him to drive locally (and be home every night). Or perhaps drive for another long-haul outfit that still allows pets.

He informed me that another large company similar to ours is already laying off drivers, and that local driving companies don’t pay as well and are also affected by the “slowdown.” Plus, many other companies who have allowed pets are now or soon to be instituting the same NO PET POLICY. Matt said what he would need is a career change. But that would still mean starting at the lowest rung of the ladder with crappy pay.

What Matt has done is inform his employer that he is willing to pay an annual, nonrefundable fee or perhaps take a cut in pay just to keep me on board. He is willing to do this because if I leave the truck Matt must find me a new home, meaning he and I will be separated forever, and he isn’t too keen on doing that. So far his employer will not budge. They are determined to run me out of the truck.

Recession bites

2008-04-12T00:39:00.003-04:00

Freight has been slow, and we are sitting often or getting really dumb loads. By dumb I mean really stupidly, short insignificantly dumb dumb stupid friggin' rotten---

MATT: (interrupting) I don't think you need to belabor the point there, kitty. You already made it by saying things have slowed down.

BUSTER: Yeah, but they're so du--

MATT: (interrupting again) --Yes, I know how frustrating recessions can be. No one wants to buy anything until they see just how bad things will get. And that, in itself, causes things to get worse. The miles are gonna suck for a while. Fuel is horrendously expensive. And soon it will mean higher prices everywhere.

BUSTER: So you blog more during a recession? I couldn't help but notice on St. Blogustine you've made quite a few posts lately. But here you haven't really done much. Is it all those Europeans looking for porn that bother you?

MATT: Hmmm. No, not really. If they wish to bask in filth, that's their problem.

BUSTER: I also noticed you haven't played with me much lately. Are you mad at me?

MATT: No, just the opposite. You haven't puked in quite a while. That's a positive. I can't stand cleaning up your barf from my log book or pillow...or wherever you spew your cereal. I guess I'm not in a playful mood, but a worrying one. I see storms on the horizon.

BUSTER: Seems to me that playing with me might take your mind off your troubles... But first you gotta buy me new toys. These are all chewed on. Make sure they're the ones I like, with lots of catnip. Yes, yes, catnip is always good. Now, I want several of them all lined up...if they're mice make sure their tails are at attention. Then I want---

MATT: (interrupting yet again) ---You want you want you want..... *sigh* .... Okay, but I may have a couple in the bin we haven't opened yet. (checking bin) Here's a few.

BUSTER: Toss 'er here!

Prelude To A Wreck...(Possibly Fatal)

2008-04-05T01:23:00.004-04:00

A couple of days ago,...the 3rd, I think, Matt and I were heading south on a US highway (I forget the number) when we saw over on the other side (the north bound lanes) a green Pontiac something-or-other at a dead stop in the passing lane (left lane). Matt says he saw the driver sitting there looking down toward his lap area, possibly reading something,...or maybe having a seizure possibly?

We were going kinda fast heading south, so Matt reached for his CB microphone to warn the north bounders of the obstacle, when we saw two trucks running abreast (side by side) heading north toward the parked car. The truck in the right lane was a car hauler, what we usually call a "portable parking lot" and the other was a white straight truck (the kind that doesn't bend in the middle).

Matt's first instinct was to look to the right for a place to park on the shoulder, as he knew what would probably happen, and his help would be needed. But there was no place wide enough to pull over.

So as he looked into his rear view mirror (we had by then zoomed past the car) while warning the north bounders of the parked car ahead, he saw the dust fly from around the white truck as it slammed on its brakes to avoid hitting the car (not being able to swerve due to the other truck running beside it in the right lane). Matt had to ask other north bounders who made it to the scene if the truck hit the car...and it did. But we were too far away to help.

So now Matt is dealing with the frustration of seeing the prelude to a possibly fatal accident and being powerless to act. Such is the life of a trucker. They see this kind of stuff every now and again. When I lay on the dashboard I try to look the other way when these events take place. But even then there are times when I have to look. In the past 12 months we've seen more than our share. Most we saw after the fact, with bodies covered up and wreckage all mangled. But this one we saw before it happened,...and could do nothing but warn others of the mess after the fact.

Yesterday's "Big" Trucker Strike

2008-04-02T22:47:00.009-04:00

Yesterday was April Fool's Day, and therefore the day truckers decided to have themselves (ourselves) a slowdown. Matt and I drove very slowly all day with the turn signal on, just like old people do. And we only drove about 220 miles. That sounds like a lot, but for a trucker it really isn't.

We saw many...and I mean MANY trucks on the road yesterday, so it may not have gone as well as you might have heard. The goal has always been to show the rest of the country how important we are to the economy by shutting down and making people beg for products they take for granted. After all, everything you have in your house, your car,...everything was brought to the store from the factories by trucks.

Matt once told me how the morons out in California once tried to ban diesel trucks from the state. The bill actually made it to the floor of the State House in Sacramento, but was voted down. Guess someone realized at the last minute that all the gasoline the cars use is transported by tankers using diesel. Too bad. It would've been nice to see those idiots stew in their own cat poop for not thinking things through.

Anyway, we hope all the great press we got for this so-called strike will amount to changes at the pump. We're using about 100 gallons of diesel per day on average, and paying over $4 per gallon. Do the math. Prices in general will have to sharply rise in order for us to make a living hauling your stuff.

Held Over For Easter...

2008-03-22T17:31:00.005-04:00

Well, Matt and I are still home. That may come as a surprise to some who were told we’d be on the road hunting for Easter bunnies on Saturday morning. I am obviously disappointed in this development.

Freight was/is slow due to this holiday weekend, so nothing that needs to go out today. But there is a load waiting for us to pick up at our terminal going to Georgia, where things are a bit warmer. We’ll get that load tomorrow afternoon after Jesus rises. Honestly I don’t know why he has to be killed year after year only to be resurrected again each time. Seems to me it conflicts with the Easter bunny hunt. At any rate, there are ducks near our building and they might make tasty substitutes. Plus, I just love feathers!

I don’t think Matt minds staying another day and a half at home. He found out he cracked his lower, left rib when he fell last week. Made it kinda hard to cough, too, with his bronchitis and all. Now he’s on the mends and coughing up all kinds of nasty crud. Good job, Matt.

MATT: Thanks, Buster. Incidentally Jesus only died once and was resurrected once. Each year we celebrate.

BUSTER: You celebrate his death? Does he know that?

MATT: The death AND resurrection. The latter is the most important, but you can’t have that without the former.

BUSTER: Yeah,…but still…

MATT: Trust me,…he doesn’t mind.

BUSTER: Okay, okay....... Hey, Matt!

MATT: What?

BUSTER: Would yah mind openin' the blinds??? Gotta look for ducks!

MATT: Sure thing.

Let Me In

2008-03-17T19:02:00.001-04:00

BUSTER: I don't get it.

MATT: Ask Leslie.

BUSTER: Fine.

Matt's Birthday Today (Yawn)

2008-03-17T18:24:00.006-04:00

BUSTER: Okay, so now what?

MATT: Well, with that Fonda stuff out of the way, we have a few things to catch up on.

BUSTER: *Sigh*

MATT: First of all, today is St. Patrick's Day. Secondly it is my birthday and---

BUSTER: (Interrupting Matt) --Oh boy! St. Patrick's Day?!? That's cool. Can we go outside and watch the parade? Do you color my cat food green? Or put green dye in my water dish? Will you buy me a green colored mouse to chase and grab with my claws and clamp down with my toothy jaws, ripping its----

MATT: (Interrupting Buster) No mice!...not real ones, anyway. Did you happen to hear me mention it's my birthday today?

BUSTER: (rolling eyes) Hmmmpphh. It's aaaallllll about you, isn't it? Today is yooooouurrrr special day, right?

MATT: Well,...yes, but not only about me. I mean it's just that--

BUSTER: (Interrupting Matt again) ---Oh! You're going to share your special day with meeeee?

MATT: You know I'm really not feeling that well today, so take it easy.

BUSTER: Wassamatter?

MATT: Well, I'm coming down with something...I don't know exactly what, but my voice is going out. Plus I fell the other morning...

BUSTER: Ahh yes, the fall. I heard that when I was hiding behind the couch.

MATT: It was 4am and I was woken up by you again...so I wanted to stick your noisy butt back in the kennel, when I stood on the couch with one foot and leaned the other on what I thought was the floor...

BUSTER: But it wasn't the floor, was it?

MATT: No, it was one of several books without a shelf that was particularly slippery, causing me to fall sideways, slamming my head on your crow's nest on the way down to my sickening thud.

BUSTER: Oh no. Is THAT what happened? I knew it didn't sound good.

MATT: It didn't feel good either. So now I have a bruise on the left side of my head and a sharp pain on my left side just below the rib cage. I'm wondering if I bruised a rib, a muscle, or an organ. Any idea what organ is on that side?

BUSTER: Well, on a bird or mouse it's usually the intestines, but could be upper or lower at that point. Usually pretty tasty either way, though. Want me to open you up and check? (holding right paw upright with gleaming claws at ready).

MATT: No. If pain persists I'll have it x-rayed.

BUSTER: Bummer.

THIS IS NOT A PORN SITE!!!

2008-03-17T18:05:00.003-04:00

It has been brought to my attention that several hundred, dirty-minded Europeans have visited this blog looking for naked pictures of Jane Fonda. Well, we only have one. But nothing is really exposed that your nasty Euro-imaginations could drool over, so please take your trashy fantasies elsewhere.

The purpose of posting those pictures was to show what a floozy idiot Jane Fonda can be at times, when she isn't committing acts of treason against her own country, or giving slips of paper handed to her by American POW's containing military serial numbers to enemy prison-keepers, resulting in endless beatings for said POW's who were simply trying to get Hanoi Jane to get those numbers back to family members so they know their military loved ones are still alive. It was to show she still has no self-control or common sense of any kind.

Even as a cat who licks his own behind, I know better than most of these Europeans who spend every waking moment getting their rocks off, drooling on their keypads over naked pictures of a California fruitcake. So please go somewhere else for your cheap thrills. Or better yet, go somewhere you haven't been in years...if at all. Go to church! Get right with God. You'll have to meet him sooner or later. Might as well be with your soul in order.

BUSTER: How was that?

MATT: Hmmm.....not bad. It is a little harsh in spots, but I like the ending.

Save the CATS...and dogs

2008-02-12T17:30:00.000-05:00

Due to all the CATS and dogs that are being abandoned simply due to foreclosures on properties owned by irresponsible humans, I am now collecting for the ASPCA. See donation widget on the right side column. Thanks for your support.

Euthanizing With Carbon Monoxide?!? Illinois Seeks To Ban

2008-02-12T14:08:00.000-05:00

The shelter in Easton, PA, from which I was rescued (thanks, Matt --and sorry for scratching you yesterday) has a “no kill” policy which seems to work for them. But apparently in Illinois it’s still okay to execute unwanted or abandoned animals (both dogs and CATS) for the sake of their owners’ lack of responsibility. And in Illinois, along with a small group of other states, it’s still okay to use Carbon Monoxide poisoning to do the deed.

Don’t get me wrong, though. I know it must be necessary at times when a dog or CAT is in untreatable pain to put them humanely out of their misery. Or even if the animal is so unmanageable that finding a home is an impossibility. But just read the excerpt below from a Chicago Tribune article about what carbon monoxide entails:

[Illinois is among eight states that still allow dogs and cats to be euthanized by pumping carbon monoxide into a special chamber, Matyas said. Four or five dogs are put into the chamber, which is about the size of a dumpster, along with a similar number of cats, he said.

As the gas seeps into the chamber, the dogs sometimes panic and begin fighting, Matyas said. It often takes more than 30 minutes for the animals to die.]

Read the full article and view the video by clicking here.

Hat tip to Culture Wire.

Arguing In Georgia

2008-02-11T19:07:00.000-05:00

BUSTER: (serious) Is that supposed to be funny?

MATT: (smiling) Yes. I believe so.

BUSTER: Is that directed at me?

MATT: ...Yes...I believe so. (smiling again)

BUSTER: You know...the color is wrong!

MATT: The color?

BUSTER: YES, THE COLOR! I'M NOT ORANGE!

MATT: (laughing) Oh, that color. Yes,...the color is wrong. But the rest of it hit right on target.

BUSTER: Are YOU the big fat guy?

MATT: (stopped smiling) You know...you do lay around an awful lot....doing nothing...just eating and sleeping and pooping.

BUSTER: Yeah...well, there isn't a whole lot to do in this truck, you know. At home I can run around the living room and into the kitchen and back. I can jump up to the window sill, bounce on your bed, wipe my nose on your pillow, and claw my way up the side of my crows nest to the top tray feeling as though I've accomplished something meaningful.

MATT: You can do that here, too.

BUSTER: (shaking head) Nope! Here I run up to the dashboard and sit next to the windshield...until you blast the defroster to chase me off--

MATT: (interrupting) --You sit next to that freezing cold windshield....I chase you off for your own good. Then I--

BUSTER: (interrupting) --you chase me off so I have to run a very short distance to the bed and sit or lie down. That's what I get to do all day...sit or lie on your bed. You won't let me jump in your lap while the machine is moving--

MATT (interrupting) --the truck!

BUSTER: --while the truck is moving. You get mad if I try to jump up to the top bunk--

MATT: (interrupting) --Do you realize what will happen if I have to slam on the brakes if you're up there? You'll fly forward too fast for your claws to grab onto anything...and you'll crack your little furry head open on my overhead compartment...or worse yet...the windshield! At least with the lower bed you can hide behind the suitcase---

BUSTER: (interrupts) ----The suitcase!...oh the suitcase...my only salvation from complete and utter boredom. Digging my claws into it gives me brief and fleeting jolts of pleasure. The only thing more pleasurable would be to sink them into your face...

MATT: (interrupting) --That's it!!! Into the kennel you go. (grabs Buster and shoves him into plastic kennel, locks door). Sorry kitty, but that was the wrong thing to say just then...

BUSTER: Let me out.

MATT: No!

BUSTER: I have to go to the bathroom.

MATT: Liar.

BUSTER: All that arguing got me excited. I have to go potty.

MATT: You'll scratch me again.

BUSTER: No, I promise. I really have to go.

MATT: Oh, okay. But you better not be lying. (opens door to kennel, Buster climbs out)

BUSTER: (Runs to litter box...does his business...climbs out, saunters up to Matt and scratches his right leg).

MATT: HEY!!! You promised!

BUSTER: I know, but I don't have to go to the bathroom anymore.

MATT: Hmmm. I wonder if John McCain will be like that.... (picks up Buster and returns him to kennel, locks door).

Buster Gets The News On Fred...Finally

2008-01-28T23:01:00.000-05:00

BUSTER: Ahhh. Finally home....up in my crow's nest. The only thing better would be if I had a crow with me to chew on. *Sigh*

MATT: I'm afraid I have some bad news.

BUSTER: (commanding) Out with it!

MATT: Yes, master. (laughing) You know, you're making this easier to tell you.

BUSTER: (seriously) What is it?

MATT: Fred Thompson withdrew from the campaign. His numbers were pretty bad in South Carolina, so he dropped out.

BUSTER: (disbelief) HE DIDN'T!

MATT: He did. In fact he did it almost two weeks ago.

BUSTER: Two weeks ago?!?!? Why didn't you tell me sooner?

MATT: You weren't feeling well, and I figured I'd better wait 'til we get back into town and get settled in.

BUSTER: Oh, is THAT what you thought? (deeply offended) You know, I would've wanted to call him with my condolances or send him a message or something...

MATT: Yeah, that was the other reason...I guess.

BUSTER: I'm not talking to you anymore! (turns his back)

MATT: Aw, come on...

Right about here was supposed to be a short video of me in my crow's nest ignoring Matt. Unfortunately both You-Tube and Blogger failed to allow us to post this video. It wasn't too long or obscene. We don't know what the heck their problems were. Sorry.

The Joys Of Traveling For A Living...

2008-01-10T21:52:00.000-05:00

MATT: Feeling better, bud?

BUSTER: (looking a little green) Uuugghhh! I guess so….a little bit.

MATT: Sorry about the bumpy road. You’d think Florida would have nicer pavement due to the lack of ice and snow.

BUSTER: (looking at vomit on rug) What do you want me to do with this?

MATT: Throw some sawdust on it and I’ll scoop it up later.

BUSTER: We don’t have any sawdust. All we have are pages from USA Today I scratched up.

MATT: Forget it. I’ll pull into that rest stop and clean it up. (steering rig to off-ramp….gliding into rest area). There we are. (pulls into parking spot and sets break [loud hissing sound])

BUSTER: (squints) I hate that sound. (looks at food dish) I’m hungry. Would yah fill my food dish please?

MATT: Not a good idea.

BUSTER: Why not? I’m starving. (yawns and licks chops)

MATT: (applying paper towels to mess and scooping it into waste basket) Because you just threw up and your stomach can’t take food yet. You’ll bring it back up within minutes.

BUSTER: Well, then I’ll just keep eating until I stop throwing up. (smiles and nods head)

MATT: What a great idea. Boy, Buster I can’t figure out sometimes why you aren’t the one driving and I’m not the one playing with your catnip toys.

BUSTER: Yes. I should be in charge. And then YOU can march into the plastic kennel for meowing so much at night.

MATT: Back to reality.

BUSTER: (lowers head) Okay… Sure is a lot warmer today.

MATT: That’s because we’re getting close to Orlando. But don’t worry. We’re getting another load tonight going right back into the snow.

BUSTER: Brrrrrr. Where to?

MATT: Palmyra, PA

BUSTER: Hey, that’s close to home, right?

MATT: Yup. And we’ll get to spend a night at our new apartment. But then we gotta go again.

BUSTER: *sigh* I guess one night is better than none. And you can move all that stuff out of here to make more room.

MATT: Oh yes, the furniture. That will be moved out promptly. It’s driving me nuts, too.

BUSTER: Glad to see I wasn’t the only one…..(looking at rug) You missed a spot.

MATT: And in a couple of weeks we can take some real time off,

BUSTER: Two weeks?

MATT: No, more like 4 to 5 days.

BUSTER: Wow, that’s a month and a half.

MATT: No, not 45 days. Four… to… five of them. We’ll take our two-week vacation in late Spring. And we’ll stay home at Club Buster.

BUSTER: Lovely.

New Fred Thompson Video

2007-12-31T00:36:00.000-05:00

BUSTER: Okay, so whose that talkin'? Is it you?

MATT: Does it sound like me?

BUSTER: No, I guess not. He drawls too much.

MATT: That's right. It's not me. Its some guy named John Hawkins from Right Wing News. He did a good job with this, I think.

BUSTER: Yeah, he di--- whoops! What's that about children and puppies? Children scare me...and I can't stand those idiot drooling canines at any age!

MATT: Hmmm.... Not to worry. It says "...people who hate children and puppies. You aren't people.

BUSTER: (looking suspiciously at Matt) You trying to tell me something?

MATT: (rolls eyes) Nope.

Siricomm Pinheads Run For The Exits

2007-12-31T00:00:00.000-05:00

Either I or Matt have mentioned problems in the past with getting online while on the road, not having much in the way of good WIFI from which to choose. The few good choices remain the same...but they'll be a little more lonely. For the worst of them has declared bankruptcy!!!

They are/were the biggest truck stop WIFI outfit in the country, and the most expensive. But they were also the most unreliable and pathetic bunch of hacks in the industry. I am speaking of Siricomm, which, until recently, could be found at nearly every Pilot, Petro, or Loves truck stop in the country. As of 12-29-07 they are history, along with hundreds of employees, most of whom had not been paid in nearly a month.

So what happened? Well, like Boston Market...a good idea at first, they pitched their tents in too many places and let quality go by the wayside. Siricomm could be found in more than three times the truck stops as the nearest competitor, but had all kinds of technical issues, not the least of which was poor reception on mildly cloudy days. The problem was that everything was done via satellite. Some WIFI providers use cell towers, others use underground cables to connect the truck stops with the host provider before beaming the signals to individual customers (most of whom sat in their trucks in truck stop parking lots). Siricomm beamed from their base in Joplin to satellites, and from satellites to truck stops, who beamed to customers. Along the way any storm, or approaching storm, or clouds, or approaching clouds, or pooping seagulls, or lost parakeets flying by would interrupt the signal causing the trucker much anguish.

The other problem was the cost. Siricomm was charging $189.00 for a year's worth of WIFI when other companies were charging $120.00 to $150.00 with far better service and 54 Mbps (vs. Siricomm's mere 11 Mbps). The only question I have at this point is this: How did they last this long???

My thanks to Matt for doing the typing and most of the research on this while I ate my ProPlan Hairball treatment cereal. Yum-yum.

My Christmas Letter To All My Friends And Relatives

2007-12-23T01:48:00.000-05:00

Well, this year was a horrible year with all kinds of suffering and strife. Guess Ill start at the beginning. I threw up so much this year I thought I was gonna die. Then Matt yelled at me a lot when I was bad. Then I threw up some more and saw a dog poop in a parking lot and got away with it. We stayed at lots of motels, some good, some not so good. And then-----

MATT: (interrupting) This isn't really your Christmas letter, is it?

BUSTER: Yes,...I wanted to be honest about things and---

MATT: (interrupting again) It doesn't sound very honest when you only mention the bad things. There were some pretty good things that happened this year.

BUSTER: Like?

MATT: Like the fact that the good vet found a medication that stopped you from all that puking. In fact you haven't puked once since December 3rd.

BUSTER: You're keeping score?

MATT: Sure. Its what I do. You could have also mentioned the new apartment we got last week with the huge windows you love...

BUSTER: Yes....and the birds (looking into space)....oh the birds. So mannnny biiiirrrrdddss. And the window sills are so deep. Lots of room for me.

MATT: And what did you get for Christmas early??

BUSTER: That was my Christmas present? Oh. I got a crows nest.

MATT: Yes! And you loved it!

BUSTER: Yes yes yes. Okay, I love it a lot.

MATT: Too bad I didn't get a picture of you in it. Will do so next time.

BUSTER: Its so tall! I'm as tall as you when I lay in the top level.

MATT: Almost.

Wake Up!

2007-12-01T02:36:00.000-05:00

MATT: Now that's what it's like in the truck every morning...minus the baseball bat.

BUSTER: I don't have any idea what you're talking about.

Apartment Found

2007-11-26T20:05:00.000-05:00

Oddly enough, Matt says he found us an apartment. You may remember his tale of apartment hunting last summer in which he was nearly swindled by several nefarious characters posing as landlords near Harrisburg, PA. Actually they were landlords, and very tricksy ones, too--

MATT: (interrupting) Yes, they were quite tricksy as you say. But I finally found one that appears to be above board, accepts cats, and makes things in general rather livable.

BUSTER: And I don't have to be declawed???

MATT: Nope!

BUSTER: When do we move in?

MATT: Middle of next month.

BUSTER: What city? Do you have pictures of the place? Do I get my own room? Does it have windows? Are there lots of mice and bugs for me to chase? I love flies. Are there lots of flies to catch?

MATT: Goodness! Uhm...I can't say the city. It's our business--no one else's. I don't have pictures, but they do...on line. But we'll look at those together, later. You remember the internet is like a large city...with lots of scary people who eat cats?

BUSTER: Koreans?

MATT: Yeah, them too. You won't get you own room. Neither will I. It's a studio, so it's rather small. But for something so small, the windows are rather large. We'll have three of them, so lots of light. There is a chocolate factory on the other side of town, so we'll have the aroma of chocolate most days. I know that doesn't mean that much to you.

BUSTER: No, it doesn't. Now a catnip factory...that would matter! Tell me more about the windows...

MATT: I didn't measure them, but they seemed to be about 3' wide and over 7 feet high. And there's a thick wire outside running left to right where birds like to perch.

BUSTER: (perking up) Birds? Crunchy birdses?

MATT: *sigh* Yes...have you been watching Lord of the Rings again?

BUSTER: I dunno.

MATT: There are no bugs that I saw, or flies either. And we're on the second floor just across from the elevator.

BUSTER: Dumb.

MATT: What?

BUSTER: Dumb.

MATT: Being across from the elevator?

BUSTER: Yup. Dumb.

MATT: Why?

BUSTER: Noise.

MATT: It won't be that bad. I have a noise maker on the way that creates white noise that will drown out the noise from the elevator while we're sleeping.

BUSTER: (shaking head) I won't even ask.

MATT: Good...don't.

Vets Day

2007-11-11T13:32:00.000-05:00

MATT: Know what today is?

BUSTER: Uh....Vet's Day?

MATT: Veterans Day, yes. And do you know the significance of that?

BUSTER: (worried) I have to go to the vet again?

MATT: (laughing) No. It's a day dedicated to-

BUSTER: (interrupting) (somewhat panicky) I HAVEN'T THROWN UP AT ALL. I FEEL FINE. HERE, (grabs Matt's hand, applies to Buster's nose) SEE? MY NOSE IS SLIGHTLY DAMP. THAT'S GOOD, RIGHT??? AND AND HERE, (applies Matt's hand to Buster's forehead) AND I DON'T HAVE A FEVER EITHER!

MATT: Calm down. I know you aren't sick. And your forehead isn't where we take your temperature, either.

BUSTER: *gasps* (backs away)

MATT: Will you relax, already?!? Veterans Day is a day honoring those who have served our country in uniform.

BUSTER: Like the guy in the car with flashing lights who pulled you over that one time?

MATT: No. Not unless he served in the United States Military at some time in his life. It's a day to honor those who made the sacrifice to serve, not only in time of war....but especially then, I guess. It started after the end of World War One....

BUSTER: (rolling eyes) Oh...here we go...

MATT: Fine. I thought you wanted to know.

BUSTER: I just wanted to know that I wouldn't have to be...examined...again, that's all. The rest just doesn't interest me.

MATT: Would the loss of your freedom interest you? Or taking all those great things for granted each day? Would that interest you? What if you had to ask the government for permission each time we stayed in a hotel or crossed from one state line to another?

BUSTER: That would suck.

MATT: Veterans have insured our freedom for 231 years and counting by putting on the uniform and defending this nation from tyranny.

BUSTER: Okay okay. So what are we gonna do today?

MATT: Watch football.

BUSTER: That's it? No celebration? No parade?

MATT: It's kinda chilly outside. And I'm tired from yesterday.

BUSTER: But if it's as important as you say it is,....we gotta do something! We gotta show our support...or whose gonna put on the uniform and sacrifice again when it's needed?

MATT: Good point. Tell you what,...while I'm out today....if/when I see someone in uniform, I'll thank him or her for their service to our country.

BUSTER: You darn well better! And thank him for me, too.

Resolved

2007-11-08T00:52:00.000-05:00

BUSTER: I fixed it!!! I fixed it!!! (pointing to damage on hood of truck)

MATT: (laying in sleeper birth) (waking up) Huh?? What?? You fixed...what?

BUSTER: I fixed the hood! I did it! Look! (pointing again with paw) Good as new! See?

MATT: (blankly) Duct tape?..... (to self) Red duct tape?

BUSTER: (proudly) YEAH! All fixed.

MATT: Hmmm. Yeah, you can hardly tell.... And the color...oh the color.

BUSTER: RED!

MATT: Yeah...it's red. Just like the truck. Uh....(puzzled) How did you get out there, for one. And how did you tape it without opposable thumbs?

BUSTER: Steroids. You've been giving me steroids, and now I'm Super Kitty.

MATT: (glaringly) How did you get out?!?

BUSTER: (pointing at Matt) YOU left the wing open. So I squeezed out and fixed your hood for you.

MATT: Prednisolone in a transdermal form does not make you buff, Kitty.

BUSTER: Must be the Pro Plan then. I'm not throwing it up anymore, so I have more energy to spend.

MATT: Will it break your furry little heart if I have additional work done, you know, just to smooth it out a little?

BUSTER: Well frankly, I just don't see that as being...necessary. It looks great now.

MATT: Yes, it could fool anybody...until it rains.

BUSTER: It won't rain!

MATT: Well, actually it will, as it tends to do so in the Autumn.

BUSTER: Well...don't drive in the rain then. (nodding once firmly)

MATT: (resigned) Sure.

Rude Awakening!

2007-11-03T00:11:00.000-04:00

BUSTER: So what the heck happened this morning?

MATT: Whaddya mean?

BUSTER: You know...around 2am when you were in bed...and the truck shook....and then shook again....and all that crunching noise.

MATT: Oh, that. Some rookie hit the truck.

BUSTER: Whaddya mean?

MATT: I mean that some sleepy, idiot truck driver with only 2 months experience felt too cocky to get out of his truck and look while he was backing into a spot next to us when he wasn't sure what he saw...or didn't see. And so he crunched the right front section of my truck's hood with the side of this trailer. And that's after he backed into my side mirror.

BUSTER: So he hit us twice, right?

MATT: Yeah. But he said he didn't realize he did it the first time....or the second. I had to get my pants on and run out there.

BUSTER: Yeah, I remember. I heard you shouting at him, "please stop hitting my truck, dammit!" Or something like that.

MATT: I didn't say "dammit"...did I?

BUSTER: I thought you did. So did he try to run off or weasel out of it?

MATT: No, he said he was sorry and cooperated fully. Nice change from some of those others.

BUSTER: Got a picture?

MATT: Let me check...yup, here it is.

BUSTER: Ooooh. That looks like crap.

MATT: Yeah, I was pretty upset. But I didn't call the police this time.

BUSTER: How come?

MATT: When I got my employer on the phone he asked to speak to the other guy and got him to admit fault. If he hadn't done that I'd have gotten a cop to do that.

BUSTER: But you said he apologized.

MATT: Yeah, they tend to do that at the time. But later on after the dust settles they start thinking about the precarious nature of their standing at their own job...and sometimes change their story. He might say it was me who hit him.

BUSTER: Well, I'm a witness. I heard him admit fault, too.

MATT: (laughing) Oh that's rich. Can you picture me taking you into court and setting you on the judges bench for you to testify? "Meow meow meow meeooow meow meeeeooow...etc"

BUSTER: (nose in air) Hmmmf! I think I'd make a very good impression...especially if the judge is female. And my meow is impeccable.

MATT: Yes, you're right about that.

Medication At Last

2007-11-01T22:10:00.001-04:00

Okay, finally we made it back through that little town in PA where Matt has his PO Box. That means that finally I have my steroid medicine: Prednisolone in a transdermal form. That means Matt smears it in the inside flap of my ear. Good for me. I hate pills. I choke on them and they make me moody.

Hopefully this new med will keep me from puking so much. I dunno. The shot in the rump I got last month was supposed to last a whole month. It didn't. It only lasted 17 days...and then I started barfing again...and moaning and stuff. I hate being sick.

It's .05 ml, which on the syringe measuring thing is equal to one drop. Weird thing is that is comes out like a cream, not liquid. Anyway I do that twice daily for a week, then once daily for the next week, and then every other day for two weeks. I hope Matt is keeping track of all that because I can't due to my lack of time comprehension beyond a day. So I'll let the 320 lbs trucker be my doctor and let the litter box biscuits fall where they may.

Why I Will Never Live With A Dog

2007-10-25T16:46:00.000-04:00

This proves once and for all that cats have been framed all these years by evil drooling dogs who run amok and wreak havoc...and...and...and and pretend to like you. Yeah. Cats don't do any of that. It's DOGS.... DOGS do that.

Two Steps Forward...One Step Backwards

2007-10-18T22:08:00.000-04:00

This morning Matt spoke with a Dell rep in Oklahoma City who found the problem. Seems Matt had never upgraded to Explorer 7 and was still using the antiquated 6. While there must have been an update years ago for 6, that update is no longer available--therefore primitive fonts. Since upgrading to Explorer 7 the remaining problem has been corrected.

I also found out that Dell is expanding its tech support team in Oklahoma City in order to possibly reverse the outsourcing trend. If this is so then Matt could possibly be talked into buying another Dell some day. I can dream, can't I?

Good news from the good vet. The steroids that assuage my puking tendencies are available in ear-drop form. They will be mailed to Matt's PO Box early next week. And not a moment too soon. I puked yesterday morning and again moments ago. Feeling a little weak and dizzy. Must tread carefully in the truck while moving. Will try to talk Matt into buying me some baby food in the meantime.

No News Means I Don't Feel Like Reporting The Bad News

2007-10-18T03:08:00.000-04:00

Much has happened since Sept. 30th. I caught a very bad cold. So bad I was sneezing this creamy junk all over Matt's windshield, Matt's chair, Matt's steering wheel, Matt's bed, and Matt. I was forced to choke down 16 pills in eight days to fight the virus, which lost the battle. I was well again.

Just then a virus (Trojan KillAV) broke through Symantec Norton's firewall and hijacked the control panel and reeked havoc utterly. There was great gnashing of teeth and tearing of clothing in anguish. Our files were laid waste and we were forced to format the entire hard drive. I guess Norton was out to lunch when Matt hit the "tech support" button. Even Dell wanted $150 for one day's work or $250 for a year's contract to fix the problem.

My solution was to re-download Windows XP, which Matt whole-heartedly agreed to do. It took almost 5 hours on the phone with the Dell tech support guy in India (who promised to call back and didn't), and then a 2nd call to Dell in the Phillipines to a nice lady who stayed on the phone the whole time. But there is still a problem. The fonts on every site we go to look very primitive---almost like the Pent 2 laptop Matt had in 1999, so he claims. Have re-downloaded Adobe 8 Reader and acrobat, along with Adobe Flashplayer---no change. Think maybe Dell sent Matt the wrong Drive disc to upload. Matt will look into that later.

To make matters even worse,...I went 17 days without puking, but now am starting again. The steroid shot worked but was only temporary. The good vet is looking into ear drops as a way to apply said steroids, and will mail them to Matt. Good. I'm sick of puking my cereal all over the rugs...and the bed...and the chair...and the dashboard...

Zzzzzzzzzz....Happy Anniversary.....zzzzzzzzzz

2007-09-30T11:50:00.000-04:00

Aaaaaaahhhh. Now this is more like it. Curled up by the window....on a chair....covered by the bedspread so I don't claw the crap outa the chair....snoozing away.....until Matt comes along with that stupid camera....

MATT: Sorry to bother you, bud.

BUSTER: Oh,...really?

MATT: Yes,...I am. Enjoying the good life?

BUSTER: Trying.

MATT: Okay, I'll leave you alone for a bit.

BUSTER: Great idea.

MATT: Oh, and one more thing....

BUSTER: *Sigh*...What?!?

MATT: Happy Anniversary!

BUSTER: Oh yeah?

MATT: Yep,...it's been exactly two years since I adopted you from a life of squalor at the Easton, PA shelter (SPCA).

BUSTER: Oh,...the nut-house. Yes, I remember. I wonder if Cookie is still there. She used to growl when she got picked up....otherwise very friendly.

MATT: Yes, I remember....Would you like to go back and visit your friends?

BUSTER: Heck no! Most of them probably got sent to Korean restaurants by now.

MATT: They don't do that!...But some who weren't adopted....I dunno....maybe they had to...you know.

BUSTER: Yes,...I know...(puts paw to throat and makes gagging noise). I remember I was there almost a year before I got chosen.

MATT: Yeah. Must've been all that dry heaving you were doing.

BUSTER: Hairballs! They were hairballs and I couldn't bring them up. I must've looked awfully good otherwise....for you to choose me.

MATT: Yep,...a combination of looks and personality. Besides,... you chose me, too. That's the main thing I was looking for.

BUSTER: Well, I was desperate.

MATT: I see.

Belly Shaved And Wallet Fleeced

2007-09-28T01:07:00.000-04:00

Uuugggghhhhhh!!! Yesterday I spent hours...I mean several hours in that plastic prison cell...a kennel, Matt calls it...due to several mishaps.

It started when Matt and I pulled into a certain customer's facility (customer shall remain nameless), and got delayed. Then we drove a couple of hours to the terminal and then the hotel, where Matt was told our room was given to someone else (even though Matt reserved it with his credit card). Oops! So we drove down to Malvern, PA where we were put in the handicap room with a microwave 2 feet above the floor. Great for me, not for Matt.

That was yesterday. This morning we missed our Nissan service appointment to fix the blower thing in the car and couldn't get it rescheduled before we return to the road (in the truck). While at the vet (appointment rescheduled) this afternoon Matt spent $500.00+ so the vet could shave my belly and do an ultra-sound. They found nothing but bright light shining around the divider between my small and large intestines. No bezoars or anything at all in my stomach. No tumours or anything like that. Just shiny sphincters in my entrails, for which I received a steroid shot in the rear. Yeeoowww!!!! But fortunately I was gassed for most of this humiliating experience. Hopefully this will stop me from vomiting so often.

Now I'm relieved to be out of the truck after 5 hours today, driving from Malvern to Bethlehem, being man-handled, and driving back to Malvern. Good thing I fasted or there would be a terrific mess in that plastic prison cell.

Got to eat when we got to the hotel. Now all is peaceful again.

Fight The Good Fight...

2007-09-21T00:55:00.000-04:00

BUSTER: Oh, yeah....gotta love that profile of mine!

MATT: Hmm, okay. But what are you doing on MY side of the truck? You plan on driving soon?

BUSTER: No, I was just waiting for YOU to come back from wherever you went. What do those two signs say, anyway?

MATT: Well, one says you blog for Fred Thompson. We,...actually. And the other warns people not to go near you for your nasty disposition.

BUSTER: That's not true! I'm very sociable and you know it. And what a poor likeness. I have more white on me than that. And what's with all the bug guts on the window? Couldn't you clean the windshield just for the picture?

MATT: Nope. All the squeegies were broken at the last fuel stop.

BUSTER: So where are we going now?

MATT: To Chattanooga....and then somewhere else...and then to Allentown-Bethlehem, but not before Ahmadinejad escapes from New York.

BUSTER: Who???

MATT: The Iranian leader....you know the whack-job who thinks the Holocaust didn't happen...and he wants to destroy Israel and the US. I was just saying we won't get to the greater NYC area before he leaves. I really wanted to go to the UN Building and shout insults at him as he comes and goes.

BUSTER: I see.

MATT: Plus, maybe I'd get to meet Pamela Geller. I'm sure she's be there with a whole gang to protest this Hitler-clown.

BUSTER: But why are you so worked up?

MATT: Buster,...just picture a big stinky dog pissing in your litter box...or better yet, your water dish!

BUSTER: Is he drooling too?

MATT: Yes he is!

BUSTER: (seething with anger) Oooooooh, I'd scratch him good! (swiping the air with open claws).

MATT: Good kitty! But we would try to be a little less violent with the Iranian President, even though he deserves to be scratched...and then some.

Porter, IN

2007-09-16T23:31:00.000-04:00

Today was a very relaxing day at Porter, IN. Matt and I took advantage of the 34 hour restart option that is still legal at this time, which resets our hours of service back to 70 available hours (for the next 8 days, starting tomorrow).

It seems that certain people would like to see the entire hours of service improvements thrown out the window, so we can go back to 8 hour breaks, 10 hour driving shifts and 15+hour work days. Matt says that sounds like crap, that 8 hours isn't enough time to sleep, shower, eat, do your business, and unwind. I tend to agree. More on this later...

Fred Up By 8 Over Rudy

2007-09-12T12:44:00.000-04:00

Matt just told me he saw a Rasmussen poll that shows our guy, Fred Thompson, up by 8 points over Rudy Giuliani. That's great, but I'll bet Rudy starts scratching like an angry kitty, now.

Gotta go! Matt sez we gotta get up to Michigan by 5pm and we won't make it, so we gotta apologize a lot to the dispatcher and stuff. Wait a minute....gotta catch a fly.....(claw...stuffing in mouth...gulp)...there. Where was I?....

Fred's Formal Announcement

2007-09-08T17:07:00.000-04:00

BUSTER: Okay, here it is.

MATT: You sure?

BUSTER: Yes.

Fundraising For Fred

2007-09-08T16:16:00.000-04:00

Matt is taking a well deserved nap, while I fumble with the keyboard trying to figure out how to post a You Tube video of Fred Thompson. I'll see if I can find a new one for ya. Not that we're gonna be all Fred all the time....but since he has officially thrown his hat in we should get with the program.

You may have noticed that button on the right just above the blog archives. Yes, we're taking contributions for Fred! Of course we don't see one dime of that money...but if we raise enough dough for him Matt might get appointed to some patronage job like Secretary to the UN or ambassador to Cleveland....or something that would get us outa the truck. Sometimes it's just too much for me, being a cat and all...bouncing up and down on the dashboard. Hey, maybe Secretary of Transportation so Matt can fix those bumpy roads that make me vomit my cereal. There. Those are enough reasons to donate. All that and the war on terror and stuff. 'Cause we can't earn a living if our cities are blown up by angry Muslim extremists who want us to dress and pray like they do...and beat up on women and chop off limbs and stuff. So donate, okay?

MATT: Hey Buster!...Don't you think maybe you should be more positive when asking for donations?

BUSTER: No! This is working. I've raised $100 already! Look (pointing to totals).

MATT: Uh...that looks like the $100 I gave earlier this afternoon, bud.

BUSTER: Then what are you complaining about? It worked, see?

MATT: And what the heck is all this stuff about patronage jobs? Do you really think I'll be running the UN if we raise substantial money?

BUSTER: Yup! And I know you can't wait so you can have the building demolished and the auslanders sent home.

MATT: Oh...uh huh...... So which You Tube are you going to post? The 15 minute one?

BUSTER: Yeah, sure...why not? It's a little lengthy for a You Tube video, but not long at all for a speech. Besides, people gotta know why Fred got in.

MATT: True.

MATT: That's not the speech!!! That's a commercial from Australia.

BUSTER: Okay okay okay...okay. Uh...let me work on it.

MATT: Awwwwwwee...those meerkats are cuuuuute.

Patience Patience Patience

2007-09-01T12:32:00.000-04:00

BUSTER: Are you ready? Are you ready already??? (tapping paw repeatedly).

MATT: Almost,...I just gotta finish posting in YOUR blog.

BUSTER: (impatiently) It's almost noon! We were supposed to leave out at 8am! At least you remembered to feed me.

MATT: Okay, okay! Almost done.

BUSTER: (more impatiently) You've been on that stupid computer all morning! Don't you know it's Later Day weekend??? We could be killed if we have to rush through it.

MATT: That's Labor Day weekend. And we still have time. Don't sweat it, kitty. Hey, Fred's announcing next week!

BUSTER: He's another one! You two take forever to do anything.

MATT: Well, we both believe in doing things right! Remember? "not on their time schedule, but OURS!"

BUSTER: (sarcastically) Welllll,...it's time to go NOW.

MATT: Yes,...I think you're right.......Hey, you know you moved up to "slithering reptile" on the TTLB ecosystem?

BUSTER: Oooh,....really? Cool, I guess. Does that mean more readers?

MATT: Well, it means more links...which mean more possibilities for people to be exposed to the possibility of clicking on said link to arrive here...

BUSTER: Hmmmm......ARE YOU READY NOW?!?!?!?

MATT: Almost,...just have to include something from You-Tube about Fred.

BUSTER: *Sigh*

Work Work Work...

2007-08-29T20:55:00.001-04:00

After our little break at Bethlehem, PA, Matt got sick and got another day off. Guess he got tired of watching me barf so much he had to do his own little puke-fest.

When that was over we got stuck with another stupid load to Canada. It went rather well and uneventful for the first two miles or so, when we got pulled off the scale at their weigh station. The guy with the reflective vest came out and told Matt he was going to conduct "just a short inspection" and then we'd be off on our way.

It was no short inspection, but a full blown one, where the guy slid under the truck and inspected everything there...and then under the hood, ...and then made Matt pump the brake thingy,...and show all his paperwork that I played with earlier. Good thing I kept the important stuff in proper order. Matt can count on me. Then after about 45 minutes he let us go.

Since Matt and his truck passed this rigorous gauntlet successfully he got a sticker in the lower right windshield thingy that I bump my head on sometimes, and a sheet of paper saying he passed the inspection. Matt said that was worth 2 good safety points from his employer (a good thing, I guess) and $25 from them, too. So Canada this time wasn't too bad.

Then we went to upstate NY on a bunch of winding, hilly roads with sharp turns that turned my tummy upside down. So I puked. Matt wasn't happy. Then we sat forever getting our trailer loaded and drove over a multitude of steep mountains through PA, WV, VA, and NC before flatter land in SC and GA. Then drove up to North East Indiana,...much calmer. But now we're sitting in Amarillo, TX waiting for our hours to reset. Then off to Albuquerque, NM to deliver. All this in just over a week. That's truckin'.

Been so busy lately and haven't had the time to post here,...or on Matt's blog. We're just driving all day with just enough time to eat and sleep in between.

Fred Thompson in Iowa

2007-08-17T20:54:00.000-04:00

BUSTER: Is that Fred Thompson?

MATT: (nodding) Yup...in Iowa today making a speech at the State Fair.

BUSTER: He said he supports the 2nd Amendment.

MATT: (nodding again) Yeah.

BUSTER: He said he's Pro-life on abortion.

MATT: (nodding still yet again) Yes, he is.

BUSTER: He supports fixing Social Security and he likes the 10th Amendment.

MATT: (nodding and smiling) That's right.

BUSTER: I didn't hear anything about rights for cats.

MATT: Hmmm...me neither. Maybe he'll talk about that next time.

BUSTER: (shaking head) He never talks about that.

MATT: Just what kind of rights were you interested in hearing about?

BUSTER: The right to make you give me treats...and...and to let me go outside when I want...

MATT: (rears back in heavy laughter) Are you kidding?

BUSTER: (long pause...looking very serious) No...I'm not.

MATT: Look, Buster. There are many other issues more important these days than cat's rights. Not that I have anything against them, but our very existence as a nation may be in jeopardy in the war on terror. You need to wake up to reality and put things in their proper perspective. We need a President who will do that and LEAD the country in the proper direction.

BUSTER: And that's Fred?

MATT: That's Fred. Tell you what,...I'll let you submit a question to the Republican You-Tube debate if you'd like.

BUSTER: Oh swell!

Major Accident---Not For The Squeemish

2007-08-12T11:16:00.000-04:00

I have no pictures to share of what happened a few days ago...and am glad of it, for the images were not pleasant, and will be burned in my little kitty brain for months to come.

But on the morning of the 9th after Matt and I left the Iowa 80 Truck Stop, rolling westbound, we came upon stopped traffic. It was a line of vehicles stretching only about 1 mile at the time, but would stretch from the 233 mile post back to the previous exit before we were allowed to proceed.

Matt turned on his CB radio to get information on the delay, and together we listened as the news came in piecemeal about the horrible accident that occurred less than 10 minutes prior. Seems that a Trans Am with two young females (found out later this was wrong, it was two older women and a 2yr old) had been traveling at high speeds eastbound and passing everyone in sight. Then something happened-- no one knows what, and the women crossed over the median and crashed into oncoming westbound traffic hitting two cars, a van, and a six wheel truck. There were several fatalities (again, only 3 reported so far by news accounts--never trust C.B. chatter!), including an entire family (with baby) whose remains had to be pried out of their mangled vehicle (again, not true by news accounts--the baby was the 2yr old in the Trans Am who was flown to the hospital).

There we sat on the highway...watching ambulances, fire trucks, state troopers, flatbed tow trucks, and then a coroner's wagon pass us on the right shoulder. Even a rescue helicopter paid the scene a visit, so not everyone involved had died at the scene, hopefully.

We sat for only an hour and a half, as the rescue workers have had much practice in their vocations, before we were finally allowed to drive through. And when we did we all moved slowly by on the right shoulder, some slower than others, as each driver had to see what delayed their travels.

Matt glanced only briefly, as he has seen many of these in twelve years of professional driving, but I had to look. Most of the vehicles had been removed along with most of the bodies, probably taken to Iowa City. There were two left: the remains of the Trans Am scattered all over the place and the car it first broad-sided. Two men were standing in front holding a blanket to obstruct the view from passers-by, while two others were prying out the remains of whomever was left in the car. One body off to the left was wrapped from head to toe in a shiny gray blanket and strapped to a stretcher in full view of everyone. Perhaps on purpose?

The looks on the faces of the rescue workers and state troopers were both angry and grim, so Matt wasted no time in getting by them...until the car in front of us came to a full stop to gawk at the carnage. With a pull on the cord, Matt blew the big truck horn and the line of traffic once again proceeded.

You can never be too vigilant out on the highways these days as lives can be snuffed out in a blink of an eye. And I'm sure that the accident we saw made an impression on many of those who waited and viewed. But to some, of course, it didn't. In fact, there were several who passed us at high speeds afterwards who were trying to make up for lost time. And so it goes...

Battle At Kruger

2007-08-08T19:15:00.000-04:00

I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU PUT THIS ON MY BLOG, MATT!!! The one time you post a video on this blog, and it's big cats losing against WATER BUFFALO, of all things!

Sitting And Waiting

2007-08-08T14:29:00.000-04:00

Thank God we ran out of Cat Lax. That stuff tasted like....well, dog spit...yes...that's it, DOG SPIT.

Now Matt's giving me something much better tasting called Laxatone, which is sweeter and goes down easy. No longer does Matt have to cleverly wipe the substance on my paws, forcing me to "clean" myself by lapping it up. Now I can't wait to lick it right off his finger every morning. And how regular I am these days,...like clockwork. No puking at all...well, mostly not.

Today we're sitting in Indiana, doing a 34 hour restart of our hours of service. That is, we cannot run anymore legally because we've run the limit. So we sit for 34 hours straight to re-set our hours to zero and then run like the wind tomorrow. Here are a couple of pics of me from moments ago.

You can hardly make me out in one, it's so dark. The other I have alien-eyes-syndrome. There is something about that laptop case I find appealing. But what's up with the bordello background? Matt, can't you get new curtains for your truck? Faded red is PINK!

Health Improving

2007-07-26T01:50:00.000-04:00

After a month of frequent puking, I am finally getting better. All it took was a trip to the vet almost two weeks ago in which I was examined, poked, prodded, and groped by people in lab coats. They even took an x-ray of me and I wasn't allowed to see it. No matter,...Matt says there was nothing to see except some poop in my intestines, which the vet gleefully pointed out.

Seems the problem was stubborn hair that just wouldn't pass properly. Seems it just got balled up and stuck here and there, slowing down the elimination process. So a laxative for me made up of cod liver oil, lecithin (whatever that is), malt syrup, white petrolatum (for sliding), and sodium benzoate (a preservative),.... Gosh,...they have everything but guar gum.

I can stand the taste, but I'm not overly fond of it. Matt tried to get me to eat it directly from the tube---NO WAY. So then he put some in my food dish...uh-uh. So then that rotten fat guy smeared some on my paws---bastardo!!! I had to lick it off. I couldn't leave it like that. A few times I tried to shake the stuff off,...but he smeared it too well. I HAD to lick it off. "Hmmm...not bad" I thought. But I've had better.

So now I'm gaining weight again and not vomiting at all. Life is good. Bring on those Democrats.

Clever Fred

2007-07-19T21:49:00.000-04:00

BUSTER: So now I'm...what?...a crawly something thingy?...

MATT: A crawly amphibian!

BUSTER: What the heck is that?

MATT: It means, according to the TTLB,...you're a frog

BUSTER: (frowns)

MATT: But that's just one example. There are many MANY kinds of amphibians....Snakes, I think...

BUSTER: What's after that?

MATT: A slithering reptile! Wait....that's a snake.

BUSTER: Oh, great. How many do I need to get to be something cool?

MATT: Some think snakes are cool. But you need 110 links to be a flappy bird.

BUSTER: A WHAT???? You mean a dumb bird is the best I can do?

MATT: Well, for now...yes. It's a long slog uphill. I wouldn't worry about it. The most important thing is to gain an audience. You can do that by linking to others and by writing good material.

BUSTER: Ah! So it's YOUR fault. You're the one writing this thing.

MATT: Well, yes I am the one typing, but the writing is inspired by you, kitty. You need to get off your hairy butt and do something interesting.

BUSTER: You want me to dance? Is that it? I gotta dance for you? (stands up on hind legs)

MATT: No, just talk about relevant topics. Like on Laura Ingraham...they talked about dog fighting because of that football player involved in that.

BUSTER: (putting up his dukes) Hey...you wanna fight? Huh? Huh? (starts shadow boxing while dancing on hind legs).

MATT: Very impressive.

BUSTER: (feigns a punch at Matt) Gotcha! I gotcha. Too quick for yah. Way too quick.

MATT: I dare you to actually hit me.

BUSTER: (quickly punches Matt three times: chin, nose, then forehead). Haaaaah!

MATT: (looking shocked but hardly reeling) Oh, you're asking for it. Try that again.

BUSTER: I got cat-like quickness....(punches Matt again on chin with right paw)...cause I'm the cat and you're NOT. (left hook to jaw).

MATT: Hey! (grabs Buster by scruff of neck) (speaking with German accent) Und now you ah going to zee coolah. (puts Buster in kennel).

BUSTER: NO FAIR!!! Hey!

MATT: You forgot to mention Fred Thompson.

BUSTER: (instantly calms down) Oh...when is he gonna announce?

MATT: Soon.

BUSTER: What's taking so long?

MATT: He will announce on his terms, not the Democrat's. The Dems have been planning attacks to coincide with the announcement. But since the announcement has been delayed, the Dems can't hold back the attacks...like someone with a blurting problem. They can't keep their mouths shut to save their own necks. So their stuff comes out early and awkwardly AND gains no traction.

BUSTER: Clever Fred.

MATT: Yes, so far it's working. The Dems are off balance. And in my humble opinion...getting nervous.

BUSTER: So it was kinda like what we just did, except for the German accent.

MATT: Correct! And for that I'll let you out. (opens cage door)

BUSTER: (punches Matt in left eye)

Blogging For Fred

2007-07-12T16:04:00.000-04:00

BUSTER: Matt! Matt! (jumping up and down cheering) I'M A SLIMY MOLLUSC!!! I'M A SLIMY MOLLUSC! (high-fiving Matt)

MATT: (high-fiving Buster) Good for you, Buster. What on earth are you talking about?

BUSTER: The TLB ecosystem! I've suddenly moved from multicellular microorganism to slimy mollusc. Do I have lungs yet?

MATT: I don't think so...not yet. (looking at blogrolls) Yes, I see you have lots of links now. Conservative Cat went ahead and put you on the cat lover blogroll.

BUSTER: (punching paw in the air) Yes!!!..... What's that other one?

MATT: Well, you have also been added to Blogs For Fred. Not sure how,... as you have never written a thing about him.

BUSTER: Will it move me up the ecosystem?

MATT: Uh...yes, it should make you a flippery fish by tomorrow.... They have gills....You're breathing water at this point.

BUSTER: Okay...okay. Breathing water. Okay, that's something...I guess. We gotta get more exposure! Are there other blogrolls I can join?

MATT: Whoa! Slow down. You need to know about this latest blogroll you joined. I think they put you on it because I'm on it.

BUSTER: You are?

MATT: Yes! Don't you read my blog anymore?

BUSTER: Been busy.

MATT: Hmmm. You need to know about Fred so you can actually blog for him. It wouldn't make sense to be on the blogroll and not mention him in your blog posts.

BUSTER: Yup. That's right. (long pause) ...So?.....Who is he?

MATT: He's running for President.

BUSTER: Is THAT him?

MATT: Yes!

BUSTER: I've seen him on TV.

MATT: Yes, he's on TV and has acted in several movies. He's also been a US Senator, US attorney, and co-chief council to the Senate Watergate Committee.

BUSTER: All that and a bag of hairball treats. Awesome! Does he like cats?

MATT: Uh...probably. I know he stands up for the unborn, voting against abortion whenever possible. He's by far the best conservative candidate for President out there.

BUSTER: Will I be the next Conservative Cat if I support him?

MATT: You are already supporting him. And yes, in a way. But you should let Ferdinand be Ferdinand and you be you. You are Truckin' Buster and that will never change...unless I get a different line of work.

BUSTER: A patronage job?

MATT: Shhh!